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So that's you Thank you. Thank you. Please have *** seat if you have one Good afternoon, Saturday, January 21, Lunar New Year. *** time to enjoy. *** ballroom dance studio, place of happiness, friendship and belonging. People across backgrounds and generations, celebrating their cultural roots and bonding through ballroom song and dance. place of refuge where immigrants have lived for years. supported new immigrants who just arrived, becoming not just friends but family But as we all saw *** day of festivity and light turned into *** day of fear and darkness holiday of hope and possibilities marked by horror and pain. vibrant dances, music replaced by vigils and memorials 11 souls taken Nine injured private mourning made public. That sense of safety shattered survivors will always carry the physical and emotional scars. Families left behind who will never be the same. One of the worst mass shootings in California history. *** tragedy that has pierced the soul of this nation here in Monterey Park, the San Gabriel Valley, the heart of the Asian American community. My dear friend, Judy Chu, former mayor, Monterey Park, your congresswoman and chair of Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus. Senator Alex Padilla Champion for this community, the entire state My good friend, supervisor Hilda Solis and all elected officials, law enforcement, first responders, faith leaders, community members all here today you've shown up for this community and I know you always will, to the families of victims who spend time I get the chance to speak with today and whom Vice President Harris spent time with *** few weeks ago I'm here on behalf of the American people. to mourn with you to pray with you. to let you know you are loved and not alone Every case is different but I know what it's like, I know what it's like to get that call, I noticed like to be told, I notice like to lose *** loved one. So suddenly It's like losing *** piece of your soul It's like *** black hole in your chest. You feel like you're being sucked into. suffocated. hardly able to breathe. the anger, the pain, The depths of the law is so profound. It's hard to explain. the suddenness. tends to magnify the grief As time passes. The shark and numbness. Slowly Make way for the sobering reality of their absence. an empty chair at the dinner table. birthdays. Anniversaries, holidays without them. everyday things, small things, the detail you miss the most the scent when you open that closet door the park you go by that used to stroll in Good morning to you shared together the bend of his smile. *** perfect pitch of her laugh as Judy shared with me. This is *** tight knit community, with intergenerational households. and deep reverence and respect for its elders community that has opened its heart and its homes to friends and neighbors and stood strong throughout the pandemic as anti Asian hate crimes rose community that in the face of horrific tragedy has become *** symbol of hope and resilience pushing forward together healing together People from all faiths and backgrounds, rallying to show their love and support. raising money for funeral costs and memorial providing counseling. and translation services to the victims. Families providing, proving that even with heavy hearts, We have unbreakable spirits as *** nation. Remember then immigrants from China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, All of whom found *** home in America, Mr Ma, age 72, *** pillar of the community *** beloved manager and dance instructor at Star Ballroom. He walked pictures of their cars at night. Help new immigrants find jobs, his Children and grandchildren will carry on his legacy in the spirit of one of his favorite Chinese proverbs. cherish the people in front of you. cherish the people in front of you, And Gal 72. Mr Nice for his kindness, his positivity, his infectious smile free spirit. Always ready to lend *** helping hand. He died shielding his dance partner, Had you on you. 57, devoted mom, wife, sister Woman of faith. Always there to help others, bringing food and newspapers to family members who had trouble walking Always, always working tirelessly with her husband, to build *** future for their three Children. Nancy G. 62 known as Sister Sunshine She loved to play cards. Piano, the weekly volleyball game Always uh sharing her home grown plants and vegetables with neighbors and friends. dedicated mom, married nearly 40 years Husband and wife who are always together Even on the last dance, Valentino Alvero. 68 years old, servant of God life of the party. storyteller. made the whole room laugh. *** man devoted to his Children and his grandchildren, May May 9 65 Bedrock of her family and friends, eternal optimist, *** *** dancer. who'd visit the studio every weekend, often leaving snacks behind for her classmates. She radiated positive energy through her laughter, her kind words and her smile, More. Die on 67. refugee community builder, cherished friend, known for her kindness, her sweetness or generosity, The beloved family. The center of her world, Diana Tom, seven years old devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, love to sing karaoke *** giver and an adventurer who loved to explore new foods and travel the world. Charles 76, Grateful Reflective. believed in living to the life, to the fullest and constantly showed his family and friends, and showered them. with warm words of encouragement, hope and love. Tao 64 *** lifelong learner. He retired as *** business manager and was pursuing *** second career as *** pharmacist. caring for his elder, elderly mother *** man beloved by his wife, Children and friends for his compassion. his determination and his wisdom. Lily. 63 *** matriarch with absolute strength, optimism and grace. Her daughter wrote stolen as *** grandmother whose granddaughter fell asleep many nights nestled between her loving arms taken away is the opportunity for her grandson to feel her love and warmth. All of them live lives of love, sacrifice and service for their families, for their community, They represent *** bigger story who we are as Americans. embodying the simple truth that our diversity, our diversity is the strength of this nation. We saw that strength and Maria and they're creating *** warm welcome space, Seniors, had strength in Brandon say who met me at the airport, whom Jill and I have gotten to know 20 minutes after the rampage, and Star Balram Brandon saw the same shooter walk into his family's own dance studio, Just two miles away pointing *** gun at him. in an instant he found the courage to act and wrestle *** semiautomatic fire on the way branding saved lives. he protected the community at Half Moon Bay just two days later and they got it. Brandon stand up, Happened just two days later, we saw heroism from police officers, firefighters and other first responders who rushed into the danger to save lives. As many of you know, Jill and I invited Brandon as our guest of the State of the Union message because we wanted the country to know all of you, not just Brandon, all of you the character of this community the faith you have in this community. The pride we see across, we see to you across all of American life just this week, *** film about resilience and power, the Asian American immigrant family made history at the Oscars echoing the heart of so many in this community. We also hear *** message we've heard too often, including two years ago this week. after the shooting in the Atlanta, in the Atlanta area, enough, do something we remember and mourn today, but I'm here with you today to act Last year after the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York and Eovaldi, Texas, I signed in the law after being both places, *** bipartisan Safer Communities Act most significant gun safety law in almost 30 years. that was in addition to me signing more executive actions to reduce gun violence than any of my predecessors at this point in the presidency. Today, I'm announcing another executive order that will accelerate and intensify this work to save more lives. More quickly. First, this executive order helps keep firearms out of dangerous hands. as I continue to call on Congress to require background checks for all firearm sales. And in the meantime, In the meantime, my executive order directs my attorney general to take every lawful action possible possible to move us as close as we can to universal background checks without new legislation. I just, it's just common sense to check whether someone is *** felon, *** domestic abuser before they buy *** gun. The executive order also expands public awareness campaigns about the red flag orders laws which my son when before he died. And Attorney General of Delaware was *** great proponent of an institute. So more parents, teachers, police officers, health providers and counselors know how to flag for the *** court that someone is exhibiting violent tendencies, threatening classmates. or experiencing suicidal thoughts that make them *** danger to themselves and others and temporarily move that person's access to firearms and it promotes This executive order, safe storage of firearms, something every responsible gun owner agrees with. Second thing it does is the executive order ramps up our efforts to hold the gun industry accountable. It's the only outfit you can't sue these days It does that by calling out for an independent government study. that analyzes and exposes how gun manufacturers aggressively market firearms to civilians, especially minors including by using military imagery. and it directs the attorney general. The public release publicly release alcohol and firearms inspection reports of firearms dealers who are cited for violation of the law that way, policymakers can strengthen laws to crack down on those illegal gun dealers and the public can avoid purchasing from them Third, the executive order improves federal coordination to support victims, survivors and their families and communities affected by mass shootings. The same way FEMA responds to *** natural disaster in California and all around the nation. and it will help folks recover and build after while they help folks recover and build after wildfires and Superstorm and droughts. For example, we need to provide more mental health support and grief for grief and trauma. and more financial assistance in the family loses the sole breadwinner or in *** small business shuts down due to *** lengthy shooting investigation There's more in this executive order, but I'm not stopping there. Last week I laid out on my budget, that we invest more in safer communities and expand access to mental health services for those affected by gun violence congressional Republicans. should pass my budget instead of calling for cuts in these services or defunding the police or abolishing the FBI as we hear from our Maggert republican friends. But let's be clear. None of this absolves Congress the responsibility from from the responsibility of acting to pass universal background checks. Eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability And I'm determined once again to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines. I led that fight in To ban them in 1994. The 10 years that law was in place, mass shootings went down Our Republican friends let it expire when it 10 years later and mass shootings tripled since then tripled. So let's finish the job. Ban, assault weapons, ban them again. Do it now enough. Do something, do something big. vote How close is this? scripture says The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. *** lot of us have been there. If you gather here today, I know your hearts are broken but I know your spirits are strong. and as you remember and heal, I know the late of your loved one it once again gonna lead you forward. It takes time. I tell everyone at least to do with me, it takes time. but I promise you I promise you, The day will come When the memory of your loved one. brings *** smile to your lips before it brings *** tear to your eye. She will never fully go away. But when you had that smile first, rememberance That's when you know. That's when you know you're gonna make it. You're gonna know you're gonna make it. My prayer for all of you that they will come sooner than later. But I promise you it will come. God bless you all. I admire you so damn much. Yeah,