Skip to content

Congressional leaders remember Parkland shooting anniversary

Lawmakers mark one year since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Students and supporters protest against gun violence with a lie-in outside the White House in February last year, after 17 people were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Students and supporters protest against gun violence with a lie-in outside the White House in February last year, after 17 people were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Lawmakers commemorated the victims of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, on Thursday, one year to the date of the tragedy.

Seventeen people were killed and 14  wounded in the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14 last year. 

Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch, who represents Florida’s 22nd District, which encompasses Parkland, called for a moment of silence on the House floor to honor the victims. He also pushed Congress to pass legislation addressing gun violence

“I ask that this moment of this moment of silence not be in vain,” Deutch said. 

Watch: House holds a moment of silence remembering the victims of Parkland

Loading the player...

While many remembrances were mournful in tone, Democrats also celebrated the approval of a background checks bill in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

The legislation, approved along party lines after a contentious marathon hearing, would expand required background checks to all firearm sales. It now heads to the House floor.

Stand With Parkland, an advocacy group comprising the 17 families who lost loved ones in the Parkland shooting, lobbied for the legislation in the Republican-controlled Senate last week. The group met with Sens. Rick Scott of Florida, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Marco Rubio of Florida and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

But because anniversaries can be a difficult time for people grieving, the families are home today.

Rep. Ted Deutch of Florida

Rep. Lou Correa of California

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania

Rep. Ayanna S. Pressley of Massachusetts

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois

Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut

Rep. Lois Frankel of Florida

Recent Stories

Supreme Court denies Navarro bid to delay start of prison sentence

EPA finalizes ban on all remaining uses and importation of asbestos

Spending deal done, though final action could slip past deadline

Capitol Lens | On a roll

In the Spotlight: Maxwell Alejandro Frost

Supreme Court sounds reluctant to curb US social media outreach