Val Demings

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, today my community gathers in Orlando to remember 49 victims of gun violence. The Pulse shooting, 3 years ago today, was the worst terrorist attack in our Nation since 9/11. Recall for a moment that, even now, there is no Federal law to ban LGBTQ discrimination. The House passed the Equality Act, but the Senate has refused to bring the legislation to the floor for a vote. Yet in spite of these challenges, there are still places in America that are meant to be safe havens. The Pulse nightclub was such a place, a place where patrons could, as my bishop put it, enjoy a late night fellowship. The victims of Pulse were not in the wrong place at the wrong time. They had every right to be there. And while Congress continues to offer thoughts and prayers, the victims were gunned down while they celebrated birthdays and family and friendships. Let me remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle what the Bible says. It says that ``faith without works is dead.'' Today we remember the victims, but their stories did not end in the early morning hours 3 years ago. The memories of those who died live on in our hearts, and the struggles and triumphs of the survivors are ever before us. Some survivors suffered severe injuries. Others were not physically injured but still carry the invisible wounds of that tragic moment. One survivor, Orlando Torres, said that the mental scars are never forgotten. Orlando spent hours trapped in the bathroom at Pulse, his clothes soaked in the blood of the people who had been shot. He says: ``I still worry about it happening again. No matter where I am, I always look for the exit. You don't want to get cornered.'' Orlando spoke about the networks of survivors who, in America, help each other after each mass shooting. He pointed out what we all now know, that after New Zealand's shooting, New Zealand took immediate action. How many more innocent Americans need to die before we take action here? But still, after all that Orlando has gone through, he remains positive--simply amazing. The attacks, he says, allowed the survivors to share with the world the humanity of the LGBTQ community and show that we are all God's children. He also said: ``I still go out. If we stop dancing and loving each other, they win.'' Sadly, mass shootings are the product of our failure to pass legislation designed to keep guns out of the wrong hands. Many victims in the Pulse nightclub shooting and shootings across our Nation did not stand a chance of survival because they were shot with weapons designed for war. This is not the America that we were created to be. In the days and weeks following the Pulse nightclub massacre, many of us spoke about how central Florida came together, on one accord, to help our community. I could not be prouder of the people in my hometown who came together to stand up for and stand with brokenhearted families and friends and to protect our community. The victims of Pulse nightclub belong to us, and we will never forget the lives they lived or their tremendous potential that will never be realized. Today we remember and, through that remembrance, we transform hate into love and loss into strength.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, America has always been a work in progress, and, therefore, we always have the opportunity to make our democracy better, stronger, when we simply do the right thing. The Declaration of Independence may have said that ``all men are created equal,'' but it took a brave group of Americans to say that it should really be ``all people.'' If the law applies to each of us equally, then the right to vote must always be equal. The women who fought for their right to vote weren't in it to make friends. They were mocked and beaten, called extremists, told to slow down, told that good things would come if they simply waited. But, nevertheless, they persisted. Today, on the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment passed in the House, let's be inspired by this group of women who took the hard fight and did the right thing, because they knew our democracy would be stronger and better for it.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mayor Raymond Bagshaw, who passed away March 10. Mayor Bagshaw's service to our community and to helping small businesses was unwavering. As the mayor of the city of Edgewood, he brought what was called boundless ingenuity to his city where he started numerous projects, including transforming a vacant, desolate lot into a beautiful park. Today, the park, which bears his name, hosts numerous events and family-filled activities. A true public servant, Mayor Bagshaw was never afraid to roll up his sleeves and work in the trenches. During natural disasters, it was natural for him to pitch in to clean up debris or direct traffic around downed power lines. Mr. Speaker, I join Mayor Bagshaw's family, the city council, and citizens of Edgewood in celebrating his life and legacy and thanking him for a job well done.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Chairman, some of the hardest calls law enforcement officers take are intimate partner violence calls. These situations are heartbreaking, volatile, dangerous, and far too commonplace. Domestic violence affects every community and crosses all racial and socioeconomic lines. It is heartbreaking and even more tragic because domestic violence is often preventable. That is the purpose of the Violence Against Women Act. One in five homicides in Florida is a result of domestic violence. In 2016, over 100,000 domestic violence incidents were reported to police in Florida. Since I began my remarks, three women have been beaten, battered, or murdered. Mr. Chairman, these calls are extremely dangerous for everyone involved. When law enforcement responds to these calls, they too are put at great risk. In 2017, more officers were shot responding to domestic violence calls than any other type of call. All too often, it is a first responder, family member, neighbor, or other loved one who is killed in a domestic violence incident. In fact, these deaths make up 1 of 5 domestic violence homicide victims. We have to train, equip, and empower law enforcement, healthcare providers, and other responders to address intimate partner violence. These programs have already proven effective. Grantees funded by VAWA have trained nearly 90,000 law enforcement officers in best practices and techniques to handle these sensitive situations. But the VAWA reauthorization is not just about continuing these successful programs. It also makes additional improvements which will save lives of victims and responders. Nationwide, the presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that someone will be killed. The VAWA reauthorization will help law enforcement disarm dangerous people and convicted felons, create new notification systems for law enforcement, address the so-called ``boyfriend loophole'' that lets non-married but dangerous partners get weapons. The Violence Against Women Act reauthorization is a critical step to our efforts to protect these Americans; and I urge my colleagues to support this critical and necessary legislation.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1404) to strengthen the United States response to Russian interference by providing transparency on the corruption of Russian President Vladimir Putin, as amended.

Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, every American has the right to a secure democracy where their voice matters. As Members of Congress, our national security must be a top priority. We must investigate and expose Russia's financial networks and cut off any illegal funding that supports criminal attacks against the United States of America. This bipartisan legislation is a crucial first step to ensure that the rights of the American people matter more than dark and corrupt Russian money. It has been said that money talks, but it is our job to keep it from speaking over the American people. Last week the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, historic reforms to get big money out of politics. But we haven't done nearly enough to prevent foreign powers and foreign money from attacking our democracy. Russia, the country that once had the ability to provide a decent life for its people, has chosen to strip their wealth as they watch their wealth disappear overseas into hidden accounts. These corrupt oligarchs are a cautionary tale on how working people can be cheated if left unchecked. These corrupt bands of individuals, led by Vladimir Putin, have mounted a massive asymmetric attack against the United States. America has the greatest military in the world, but the Russians have figured out that if they have any chance at victory, they must fight us another way: undermine our elections, spread fear and unrest, and sow discord through racism and other divisive tactics. What they don't understand, Madam Speaker, is that we take pride in our democracy. We may have policy differences, and we might have policy disagreements, sometimes quite strongly, but we all know that our democratic form of government, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people is our greatest strength and weapon against any foe. We do believe in this country that every voice matters. Foreign nationals are banned from contributing to U.S. elections, but multiple Kremlin-connected Americans have funneled millions of dollars into political action, wielding massive influence in our democracy, and Vladimir Putin is the king of this corrupt money. Putin's protests are generally delivered with a smirk and accusations of fake news, but his discomfort with revealing his assets is clearly simmering below the surface. It is telling that after Ms. Stefanik and I introduced this legislation, we were both attacked by Russian state media. What is Putin afraid of? Perhaps the former KGB operative is well-aware of the poor long-term prospects for gangsters and autocrats who are unmasked before their impoverished countrymen, or he fears uncovering his shadowy networks that prop up dictators and human rights abusers around the world in his quest to subvert world order. Likely, he and his cronies are desperate to obscure their billions in an attempt to shield themselves from sanctions. But, Madam Speaker, no matter the root of his fear, our obligation is to shine a light on his illicit networks. It is time that we hold him accountable. This legislation will expose the corrupt finances being used to fund attacks against our democracy. Madam Speaker, in closing, I call upon the words of our 35th President: ``Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.'' Madam Speaker, I urge the passage of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, March 8, 2019. Hon. Adam Schiff, Chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 1404, the ``Vladimir Putin Transparency Act.'' As a result of your having consulted with the Committee on Financial Services concerning provisions in the bill that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction, I agree to forgo action on the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor. The Committee on Financial Services takes this action with our mutual understanding that, by foregoing consideration of H.R. 1404 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar legislation moves forward. Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation and request your support for any such request. Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 1404 and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record. Sincerely, Maxine Waters, Chairwoman.

Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, in closing, H.R. 1404 will shine a light on Vladimir Putin's financial networks that have stripped the Russian Federation of its resources and left the Russian people in poverty. It will also empower Congress, the intelligence community, and our allies to crack down on cross-border corruption. I want to thank my colleague on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Representative Stefanik, for joining me in this important legislation. Additionally, I want to thank the hardworking staff on both sides of the aisle on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Foreign Affairs Committee for their input on this critical legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I reintroduced H.R. 449 to enhance counterterrorism preparedness at the local level. In recent years, we have seen acts of terrorism, especially in planning and execution, take place in cities throughout our Nation. Whether it occurs at a church in Charleston, a synagogue in Pittsburgh, or a nightclub in Orlando, local law enforcement is the front line of defense in protecting our communities from acts of violence. It is, therefore, necessary to equip our first responders with the tools to allow them to quickly adapt to the evolving terrorist threat landscape. This bill, H.R. 449, does just that. Today, the Department of Homeland Security's training catalogue is a primary resource for State and local jurisdictions to find opportunities to enhance their counterterrorism and preparedness capabilities. Specifically, H.R. 449 directs DHS' Office of State and Local Law Enforcement to produce, as you have heard, and distribute an annual catalogue of training programs and services to State, local, and Tribal law enforcement communities. To ensure that this information is shared throughout the law enforcement community with agencies large and small, H.R. 449 requires this comprehensive catalogue be posted on the DHS website, as well as on the Homeland Security Information Network. Enactment of this bill will further strengthen the Department's partnership with State and local law enforcement to help better protect the homeland. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Charlie ``Chief'' Ings, a legend in the Orlando Police Department. Charlie ``Chief'' Ings spent nearly thirty years with the Orlando Police Department. He was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, serving as one of OPD's first black police officers and serving as the first black detective. Charlie Ings' commitment was real, his dedication fierce, and his perseverance unwavering. Before joining the police department, he spent seven years with Orlando's Recreation Division. While walking a different type of beat, he mentored children and teenagers and stood as a strong role model and source of strength and inspiration for his community. By the time he joined the Orlando Police Department, he was called a ``walking encyclopedia'' of West Orlando's families by his peers. What came naturally to Charlie Ings is today known as ``community-oriented policing.'' Simply put, he always put service above self. The community trusted him, and that meant getting calls and tips to fill in crucial details on unsolved cases. He worked long nights and cold mornings, broke up crime rings and built lifelong friendships. He was married to his wife Pearl for thirty years and was father to six children. One of his children, Commissioner Samuel Ings, followed in his footsteps by joining the Orlando Police Department. What Charlie ``Chief'' Ings' former colleagues remember about him is his character. His integrity was renowned, and he treated everyone with dignity and respect. He was an officer and a gentleman and leaves an exemplary roadmap for others to follow. He will be remembered by his family, his friends, former colleagues, and a grateful community.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, this shutdown is causing fear, pain, and stress for thousands of families in central Florida. Now, this may be confusing to the President and to Senator McConnell, but to Brandon and his wife, who both have Federal jobs in my district and zero income coming in, it is all too clear. It is all too clear to Ralph, an Army veteran who is trying to juggle expenses for three children, including a special needs child. It is all too clear to Doug, who keeps sensitive equipment working at the airport, but now he is struggling to cover daily expenses while also taking care of his mother. It is all too clear, Madam Speaker, to my constituent Jeff, a Coast Guard retiree, now a civilian employee, who is working to raise money to help current Coast Guard servicemen. But Jeff himself is also not receiving a paycheck. Families like these--and there are hundreds of thousands of them--are real people with real pain. The President and Senator McConnell need to do the right thing and put an end to this destructive shutdown now.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, it is surely a shame that it is necessary in the year 2019 for the U.S. Congress to denounce white nationalism in Congress. As a police officer, I worked white supremacist rallies. The words alone hurt enough, but as a police officer, I also saw vicious acts of violence by those inspired by those hateful words. Words do have consequences, and if you promote hateful, ignorant beliefs, then you will be held accountable. Certainly, Congress should lead the way. This week, the ignorance of white nationalism was defended by one of my colleagues. Today, as we recognize Dr. King's birthday, I am reminded that Dr. King called on all Americans to enlist in a crusade finally to end the race question and make it an ugly relic of a dark past. But still we know hate crimes are on the rise. We understand why. Madam Speaker, if we are who we say we are, a great nation, one nation with liberty and justice for all, then we all must exercise our power and take a stand so strong that even the white supremacists cannot ignore it.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a legend in the Orlando community--the peerless James ``Chief'' Wilson. Mr. Wilson was father to two daughters, but a father figure for thousands. As band leader at Jones High School--a program he built from scratch into one of the finest programs in the country--he brought a lifetime of learning, music, and joy to his students and his community. Mr. Wilson was famous not only for his high expectations, but for his lifelong advocacy for the young men and women in his care. He helped them prepare for college and win scholarships. He stayed in touch with them for years after they graduated. Many credit him with turning their lives around. Simply put, he was a role model. He provided the guidance that only an incredible teacher can give. Telling his pupils that ``perfect practice makes perfect performance,'' he cultivated an attitude of excellence in his students that would last a lifetime. But underneath the demand for excellence and the incredible legacy that he built, there was also the man himself--a man whom his children described as a ``kid at heart.'' A man who loved music, Christmas lights, and the old car which he used to give rides to students and take his family on road trips. ``Chief'' Wilson never met a stranger, and he remembered his students when he crossed paths with them years later. A faithful member of Washington Shores Presbyterian Church, a homeowner in the Washington Shores community for over 50 years, and a charter member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., his roots were deep. He will be missed by all. But I know that his positive influence will live on in his students, his program, and his incredible legacy for years to come.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, let's discuss voting in America. Mr. Speaker, 53 years ago--I believe we all know it--Congress passed the Voting Rights Act to stop discriminatory practices which denied minorities the right to vote. Poll workers would ask people of color ridiculous questions like how many jelly beans are in a jar or use humiliating literacy tests and poll taxes to take away this constitutional right from good, decent people. Now here we go again. Because the President of the United States just can't accept the fact that he lost the popular vote, which he did, my Republican colleagues are using racial fears and dishonest words like ``protecting our elections'' to encourage Americans to turn against each other. If my GOP colleagues want to protect our elections, they should join us in restoring the Voting Rights Act, which was gutted in 2013. If my Republican colleagues want to protect our elections, they should join us in passing legislation to protect the special counsel. But obviously the GOP feels that they can't win on their merits, so they will suppress the vote instead, change the rules, close polling places in Black and Latino communities, remove legitimate voters from voting rolls, pass laws like the one in North Carolina that targeted African Americans with--and I quote--surgical precision. Mr. Speaker, the American people are tired of the division and distractions from the White House and the GOP to turn us against our neighbors, especially along racial lines. And 53 years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, the American people expect men and women of conscience to step up and refuse to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Boy Scout Troop 221 of Apopka, Florida. They truly exemplify of the Scout values of duty, service, character, leadership, and self-reliance. Last year, they led the Central Florida Council in community service. Together, they volunteered over 4,000 hours of their time. One project was a memorial to the victims of the September 11th attacks created by Eagle Scout Christian Lamphere in honor of the first responders who died in the attacks. Christian wanted his community to know the risks that our first responders take every day. For that project, Christian won the Central Florida Eagle Scout Project of the Year. This week, I had the honor to meet with Troop 221 here in Washington. I am proud of all of our Scouts, thankful for all they do for the community, and I can't wait to see what they do next.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Ron Plummer, Manager of Orange County, Florida, Office of Emergency Management, who passed away last week. Ron was a dedicated public servant, husband, and father. Ron served in the Army and the Marine Corps for 27 years. Since 2002, he has helped our community through countless storms and disasters. As every Floridian knows, getting through hurricanes and other emergencies requires calm leadership and deep compassion. Ron lifted the spirit of storm-stricken neighbors, brought kindness to those with special needs, and made hope a tangible presence. Ron united peers and partners to keep us safe, and shared his vast expertise throughout the State and the Nation. Ron Plummer will be greatly missed by all who knew him, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for a life well lived.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, during my 27 years in law enforcement, I fought many threats to our families. But today, I have to say that I am ashamed that our leaders now say that those families are the threat. Families seeking asylum are not a threat. Toddlers and children at the border are not a threat. Dreamers who are brought here as young children, both of us know, are not a threat. Mr. Speaker, I ask: Why is it so easy to reject those who we believe are different from us? We will not allow this administration to make America a country that only accepts the rich and well-connected. When we know better, we are supposed to do better. And so I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, you are right, let's stop playing politics. Let's do better and reject this dangerous piece of legislation.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4627. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Donovan, for this important legislation, which contains a critical provision to ensure that our antiterrorism funds go to their intended purpose. Three months ago, we heard rumors of plans to use precious homeland security funding to distribute guns to teachers. I introduced language to block this idea, and I am glad to say that this language has, indeed, been included in H.R. 4627. As a former law enforcement commander, I was assigned to Orlando International Airport during the 9/11 attacks. I have seen firsthand the vital need for our antiterrorism funding to be used wisely, carefully, and precisely to prevent terrorist attacks before they occur. It is essential that our students go to school safely. Arming teachers would be both impractical and immoral. Requiring teachers to stop mass shooters not only shifts our responsibilities as lawmakers to them, but it also shifts the hurt, the pain, the guilt, and, potentially, the liability when they find themselves outskilled and outgunned by a shooter with a weapon of war. We already, as you all know, ask our overworked and underpaid teachers to do too much. We must find ways to continue to allow them to teach. Let's support them in helping all of our children reach their full potential and continue to work with our law enforcement departments to reduce gun violence. Our limited homeland security funding should be used to prevent terrorist attacks in our local communities. Therefore, I join my colleagues here on the floor, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 4627.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, today marks 2 years since the Pulse shooting. Tonight, my colleague Congressman Soto and I stand on the floor of the United States House of Representatives to honor and remember the victims of that horrible night. The Pulse attack was the second worst mass shooting marring American history, the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11, and the worst attack against the LGBTQ population in our history. This evening, in our hometown of Orlando, thousands of people are gathered, like they were 1 year ago and 1 year after that. They gather to mourn, to honor, and to pay tribute to the 49 lives we lost on June 12, 2016, just as we do here tonight. Mr. Speaker, I wish I could be there with my friends, neighbors, and loved ones in Orlando, but I felt it was important to be here, fulfilling our duty as Members of Congress. We stand here tonight on the floor of the House of Representatives so that the world will not forget the lives we lost in the Pulse nightclub shooting. This month, we are celebrating Pride Month. June 1 was Gun Violence Awareness Day. For the men and women at Pulse 2 years ago, the nightclub was a refuge. It was a haven for our LGBTQ community and their friends; and particularly, it was Latin Night, and they gathered to celebrate. It was a place where, my bishop likes to say, they were there for a late night fellowship. This is what I want to emphasize. The victims at Pulse, like every other mass shooting, were not in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were living their lives, taking refuge in song, dance, joy, and celebrating their common humanity at a time when the common humanity of LGBTQ Americans was not, and it is still not, universally recognized in our country. It was supposed to be, Mr. Speaker, like any other Saturday night for the men and women inside the Pulse nightclub. It was about 2:02 a.m., when everyone was closing their tabs for the night and about to head home. That is when an ISIS-inspired gunman walked into the club with an assault rifle and a handgun. Within a few minutes, he killed 49 people and wounded 53 others. The innocent men and women in the club didn't stand a chance against the gunman. We will return to that point later. The fact is that the weapons available to this gunman made his attack, in many instances, as bad as a battlefield. Orlando lost 49 lives that night; we lost 49 lives that night. Many others have had their lives changed forever. But after the attack, we saw our community come together. We donated blood together. We raised money together, and we mourned and grieved together. Mr. Speaker, tonight we continue to mourn, and we continue to grieve. Together with my colleague, Congressman Darren Soto, we want to remember the victims, tell their stories, and celebrate the lives we lost 2 years ago. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto), my colleague, whom I am absolutely honored to serve with.

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Soto as he talked about the advocacy that we have seen in the place that we call home, the place that we love in Orlando. It is amazing how, out of the ashes, out of tragedy, good things can happen. We are so proud of Brandon and others like him who have turned their unbelievable, unbearable pain into action. Congressman Soto said one of the best ways to honor the victims is through action. When we looked at the devastation 2 years ago, we started a serious conversation about how to do that. Of course, this year is a painful time for us, for Orlando, for our Nation, for the world, for so many who grieved with us and continue to grieve with us. But as we think about action and what has happened since Pulse, I just have to mention a horrible tragedy that happened in Orlando yesterday, as we talk about gun violence and continue to work hard to turn our pain into advocacy and to legislation. Yesterday, the Orlando Police Department responded to a domestic violence call. The suspect was a convicted domestic abuser who had been arrested several other times for felonious actions and for violating his probation, but he also had a gun. When the officers arrived, he opened fire, hitting one officer, Officer Kevin Valencia, who had been with the department since 2016. This young officer is in his twenties, and he has a wife and two young children. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Valencia, who is in critical condition, fighting for his life. But, inside, the shooter had his partner's four young children: Irayan was 12. She wore glasses with pink rims. She had dark, wavy hair and a bright smile. At school, she was known as an overachiever. Lillia was 10. She was blonde and wore glasses. Aiden was 6. He and his sister attended Sadler Elementary School, and he loved dinosaurs. Dove was 1 year old. She loved to play outside. Officers evacuated the apartment complex where the standoff was occurring. Neighbors stood by in parking lots, some of them in their pajamas, while the hours ticked away. But when the police entered the apartment, desperate to save lives, they found all four children dead, as well as the shooter. As we very painfully remember the victims of Pulse, a day before the 2-year anniversary, we lost two young girls and two young boys. These children will never grow up, will never realize their full potential. It is amazing what our children are now having to endure and having to deal with. A 10-year-old girl who lives in the area spoke to a reporter this morning, and she said: ``He killed himself and killed the little kids.'' That is this 10-year-old girl's reality. Gun violence kills our children. It kills our future. It breaks into our homes, our theaters, our restaurants, our nightclubs. It turns nightclubs into shooting ranges. It turns homes into battlefields. It turns schools into theaters of war at worst, prisons at best. We have few answers at this point about what happened and why on the eve of a 2-year anniversary of Pulse, why this man, this convicted felon with a history of violence, had a gun. We know that in more than half of our Nation's mass shootings, a family member is at least one of the victims. We know that in nearly half of our Nation's mass shootings, there are warning signs beforehand, often violence against family members. Let's think about it. Before a gunman in Sutherland Springs, Texas, killed 26 people, he had been convicted of domestic violence. Before a shooter tried to kill our friends and colleagues at the congressional baseball practice, he had beat his foster daughter and shot a gun at her boyfriend. Before the Sandy Hook murderer killed 20 children and six others at a Connecticut elementary school, he first killed his mother. There are usually warning signs beforehand. The Pulse shooting was no exception. Before the Pulse gunman murdered 49, he beat his previous wife and locked her away from her family. The American Journal of Public Health found that having a gun in the household during a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that the abuse will turn into a homicide. So what do we do? What do we do as we talk about the advocacy that we are so proud of that is going on in our hometown? What do we do as legislators in one of the most powerful bodies not only in our country, but in the world? We remember our victims. We tell their stories. We grieve with their families and with the survivors. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield to Congressman Soto to continue to share his thoughts with us.

Mrs. DEMINGS. Congressman Soto, I want to thank you so much for several things that you've talked about. First of all, your recognition of our first responders, our brave police officers and firefighters and the absolutely amazing job that they do, not just in Orlando, but across the Nation, to keep, as you put it, our homeland safe. When you think about it, our first responders get called to every tragedy. I heard someone once say that--I believe it was Chief David Brown, former Chief David Brown in Dallas, Texas who said that every time society fails or something goes wrong, law enforcement's called in to deal with it, to fix it. So thank you for your recognition of them. We lost four law enforcement officers in the line of duty last year. And we have one, as you heard me mention earlier, Officer Valencia, who is in the hospital fighting for his life. I also thank you for the beginning comments when you talked about the bravery of some of the survivors at the Pulse nightclub, those who did what they could to shield others from harm, to help others get to places of safety. But also, I think the elephant in the room are the giant loopholes that you spoke about. When we share the stories of the Pulse victims, it is impossible to separate those stories from the discussion of gun violence in this country. The two are certainly intertwined, and we cannot discuss one without discussing the other. As we remember the lives of these 49 victims, and countless others throughout the great Nation that we serve, I am reminded that every American should have the right to go to school or church or a mall, synagogue, a movie theater or a nightclub without being brutally murdered or wounded by someone with a gun. You have reminded me, Congressman Soto, that our job as legislators is to create laws that allow Americans to live their lives in safety and security. Two years after Pulse, we have not done that job, and you so clearly pointed that out in your comments. We have not closed the loopholes that allow disturbed people to buy a gun without a background check, even though we represent Americans and 97 percent of Americans support that idea. We have not implemented universal background checks while we represent Americans, although 83 percent of Americans support universal background checks. We have not banned assault weapons like the one that was used to take so many lives in the Pulse shooting, the Las Vegas shooting, the Parkland shooting, and so many others, while 67 percent of Americans support banning assault weapons. The gentleman talked earlier about what those weapons were designed to do. I spent 27 years in law enforcement. I can tell you that they were designed for the battlefield. Persons shot by assault weapons, the chances of survival are greatly diminished. They were not designed for the streets of our neighborhoods and in our communities and in our school campuses and at our churches and in our movie theaters and other places that are designated safe places. No, we have not banned bump stocks. What sense does it make to say that automatic weapons are illegal, but allow individuals to go out and, for less than $200, purchase a device that will take your semiautomatic weapon and make it function like an automatic weapon? As the gentleman mentioned earlier, no, we have not fully empowered law enforcement to better protect our families by allowing them to temporarily remove guns from troubled individuals. Mr. Speaker, 2 years after Pulse is more than 2 years too late, but the time is always right. I believe Dr. King said this, to do what is right. Instead of responding to mass shootings where police officers are shot in the head, and children are killed and other innocent people, we should work to prevent them. As a police chief, my goal was to stop violence from occurring in the first place. We, as Members of Congress, have the ability to do that. Congress has acted on this issue before. We passed the National Firearms Act of, gosh, 1934; the Gun Control Act of 1968; the Gun-Free Schools Act; the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act; and the Federal assault weapons bans. These were bipartisan efforts that saved lives. Where is the legislative response to the Pulse shooting 2 years later? Where is the legislative response to the Parkland shooting? I urge my colleagues, my friends, let's do our job and make schools and theaters and nightclubs of our country truly safe. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, we are here tonight to honor the victims of Pulse. They deserve to be remembered. Their families deserve recognition, and they also deserve action. The men, the women, the mothers, the fathers, the sons and daughters, the brothers and sisters gunned down in our country deserve remembrance. They also deserve courage from their leaders. They deserve action from us. As we utilize the last, I guess, 11 minutes now, I will yield to Congressman Soto to just kind of wrap up his thoughts and leave with us some words that, hopefully, will carry us to the right direction.

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, 49 bells to represent 49 people. Our community declared June 12 to be Orlando United Day, a day of love and kindness. Today, we take time to remember the 49 angels and all of those who still carry physical and mental wounds from that day, 2 years after the attack. I believe, Congressman Soto, more strongly than ever, that love will win. While the pain will never go away, I do believe that we have an obligation to turn our pain into action. We will not forget those who lost their lives. I am proud to represent a community that has acted with such incredible strength and love. I am proud to continue to honor these men and women, not only through our words, but through our actions. I am also proud to be joined by Congressman Soto, and I thank the gentleman for his unwavering commitment and dedication to protecting our homeland, and his commitment to creating and passing meaningful legislation to keep guns out of the hands of bad people. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his advocacy and his leadership on this issue, and I thank him for joining me in this day of remembrance. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. DEMINGS

Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments and life of Mary Lee Allen as she celebrates her 10th birthday this year. Mary Lee Allen was born on May 15, 1918 in Branchville, South Carolina. Throughout her adult life, Mrs. Allen has given back to her community, neighbors, and church. She is known as a proud local small business owner and mentor to countless young women. Mrs. Allen attended public school in New York and went on to earn a degree from cosmetology school. After she moved to Florida, she continued her education, taking advanced classes in hair and beauty. On May 7, 1938, she married the late William J. Allen. The couple moved to Winter Park, Florida, and quickly became involved in their community. Mrs. Allen took the bold step of opening her own business-- Mary Lee Beauty Shop. Throughout the shop's years of business, Mrs. Allen provided constant advice and support to young employees. Mrs. Allen has been a member of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church for over 60 years, and joined the church's Senior Missionary Society and Senior Choir. She also helped found the 'Ideal Women Club.' Over the years, she has received numerous awards and recognitions for her outstanding community service, and has earned the love and friendship of her neighbors. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have Mrs. Mary Lee Allen as a constituent, and I extend best wishes to her on her 100th birthday.