Remarks by President Biden in Bill Signing of H.R. 49 to Designate the National Pulse Memorial into Law
JUNE 25, 2021
Location: Not determined

1:57 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m Joe Biden.  I’m Jill’s husband.  (Laughter.) 

Before I sign, let me start with a few words about what’s going on now in — in Florida.  And, you know, the people who are here, who were part of what happened that night at the Pulse nightclub and the scores that I just spoke to a moment ago — they’re online looking at this — they understand that — what it’s like to have to wait and wonder what happened. 

The families — I remember going down there to the Pulse nightclub afterwards and — and wondering: “Is it my son, my daughter, my husband, someone I love — is that who got lost?”  Because you didn’t know for certain initially. 

And as — as Congressman Cicilline knows, there’s nothing worse than having to wait and wonder what happened.  And I know, Val, when you were a police chief, you had to go through waiting a lot as well. 

And so, I just want to say, I’ve spoken to Governor DeSantis.  And we’ve provided all the help that they have — they need.  We sent the best people from FEMA down there.  We’re going to stay with them; with the disaster declaration we made, provide for everything from housing to, God forbid, whether there’s a need for moratoria- — if there are — to — for the bodies to be placed.  Everything in between. 

And — but I just — I just want to say — and I’m sure I speak for all the members of the Congress here today and all the survivors here that — that it’s a tough, tough time.  There’s so many people waiting.  “Are they alive?  Will they be — what will happen?”  And so, our heart goes out to them. 

And I — to the people of Florida, I want to — I’ve spoken to Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  I’ve spoken to most of the folks down there and member — in authority.  And I promise you, the administration, the Congress — we’re doing everything possible to be of assistance now and after this occurs — after they decide exactly what the state of play is.

But I’m glad to welcome everyone here to the adjunct to the White House here, and in person and virtually: survivors and family members, victims, and the path-breaking leaders like Senator Baldwin. 

Just over five years ago, the Pulse nightclub, a place of acceptance and joy, became a place of unspeakable pain and loss.  And we’ll never fully recovery, but we’ll remember.  And we have to — what we’re going to do is what the members of Congress here did, and enshrine in law — as a consequence of that law, enshrine, in perpetuity, literally a monument to the loss that occurred there, and an absolute determination that we’re going to deal with this every single, solitary day and make sure that we’re not in a position to see this happen again. 

Behind me, you see, on either board there, the 49 lives lost: family members, parents, friends, veterans, students, young, Black, Asian, Latino — all fellow Americans.  And in their memory and for the countless others forever scarred is why I sign this today. 

And let me say how much I appreciate it — and I mean this sincerely — the — the commitment of the members of the House and Senate to make sure that we don’t forget — that this isn’t forgotten. 

Now, there’s a tradition when a bill is signed that the President gives a signing pen to each of the people who had something to do with the law or the decision being made in the first place. 

I promise you, I have all the pens, but they’re in the other room.  I couldn’t figure how to sign — (laughter) — sign them all.  But don’t leave without the pen.  Okay?  All right?  All right. 

REPRESENTATIVE TAKANO:  Thank you, Mr. President.