HRES-1364-119
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Sponsored by Darren Soto (D-FL)
What it does
This resolution would have the House of Representatives formally honor the victims of the June 12, 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, and express condolences to their families. It also commends the law enforcement and emergency responders who responded to the attack and states that Congress should continue working on firearms regulation and mental health legislation, but it does not create, fund, or change any law or program.
Who benefits
The victims' families and the Orlando community, who receive formal congressional recognition and remembrance. The LGBTQ community and Latino community, who are specifically named as having been targeted, may find symbolic value in the acknowledgment. Law enforcement and emergency responders who are commended for their actions.
Who is hurt
No group is materially or negatively affected. The resolution has no binding legal or fiscal effect on any individual, business, or government entity.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that formally commemorating the deadliest attack targeting LGBTQ people in U.S. history honors the 49 victims and their families and affirms congressional solidarity with the Orlando community a decade later. They contend that such resolutions, while symbolic, provide official recognition of tragedy and reaffirm shared values against hate-motivated violence.
Opponents argue
Opponents of commemorative resolutions in general argue that floor time and committee referrals are better spent on substantive legislation with binding effect, and that this resolution's closing call to continue pursuing new restrictions on firearm access and mental health legislation injects policy positions into what is otherwise a bipartisan act of remembrance, making it less broadly acceptable than a purely ceremonial statement.
Constitutional context
This resolution raises no constitutional question beyond the House's general authority to adopt simple resolutions expressing the sentiment of the chamber.
Checks and balances
No branch gains or loses authority; this is a non-binding expression of the House's sentiment with no enforcement mechanism or legal effect.
Historical precedent
The House has previously adopted similar commemorative resolutions marking anniversaries of mass casualty events, such as resolutions honoring victims of other domestic terrorism incidents.