The Senate Passes Bill To Make Pulse Nightclub A National Memorial 5 Years After Mass Shooting

The U.S. Senate has passed legislation designating Pulse nightclub a national memorial, nearly five years after a deadly mass shooting took place there.

The bill, titled bill, S. 1605, passed just three days before the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando, Florida. On June 12th, 2016, gunman Omar Mateen opened fire inside the club with an AR-15-style assault rifle. Of the 58 who were wounded, 49 were killed by Mateen.

On May 12th, The House passed its own version of the law titled H.R. 49, named in recognition of those who lost their lives in the senseless mass shooting. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio recognized the anniversary, stating that the bill to establish the National Pulse Memorial honors the young lives who were tragically lost.

“It is my hope that this memorial will forever serve as a tribute to the victims and a reminder for us all to always stand for love and kindness over hate and evil in this world.”

Since the mass shooting, Pulse has become a memorial for survivors and the families of those murdered. Many people continue to visit the club and pay their respects.