ORLANDO, Fla. _ U.S. Reps. Stephanie Murphy and Darren Soto are calling for the Pulse nightclub site to be a federally recognized national memorial, they announced Monday morning.
"Our efforts to designate the Pulse Nightclub a National Memorial site honors the lives of the 49 victims and survivors, and ensures no one ever forgets this tragedy," said Soto, D-Kissimmee. "The memorial will serve as a reminder of the remarkable way our community came together to heal and overcome hate."
Without the protection, Soto warned, the site could be allowed to deteriorate or be vandalized.
"We recognize the need to preserve LGBTQ historic sites, because of cases like the Matthew Shepard Memorial which have been deliberately destroyed over time without these protections," he said.
Murphy, D- Winter Park, is joining Soto to introduce legislation that would give the future memorial the federal designation.
"The Pulse tragedy shook our community to its core and forever changed us," she said. "It's important we remember the love that the 49 victims and their loved ones brought into this world, which will always be stronger than the hate that stole their lives on that day."
This federal designation would "honor the 49 lives taken on June 12, 2016, as well as the survivors, first responders, and the entire Central Florida community," the lawmakers said in a news release.
The recognition as a National Memorial site also allows for public or private grants _ a key point in the effort to raise $50 million for the memorial's design, construction, maintenance and an endowed scholarship fund.
