Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Biden Will Sign Bill Making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 years ago on
June 17, 2021

Share

WASHINGTON — The United States is commemorating the end of slavery with a new federal holiday.

President Joe Biden will sign legislation into law Thursday that makes Juneteenth, or June 19, the 12th federal holiday. The House voted 415-14 on Wednesday to send the bill to Biden after approval by the Senate earlier in the week.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas — two months after the Confederacy had surrendered. That was also about 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the Southern states.

It’s the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which is the human resources office for the federal government, tweeted Thursday that most federal employees will observe the new holiday — Juneteenth National Independence Day — on Friday since June 19 falls on a Saturday this year.

Important Milestone to Commemorate End of Slavery

“Our federal holidays are purposely few in number and recognize the most important milestones,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y. “I cannot think of a more important milestone to commemorate than the end of slavery in the United States.”

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, speaking next to a large poster of a Black man whose back bore massive scarring from being whipped, said she would be in Galveston on Saturday to celebrate along with Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas.

“Can you imagine?” said Jackson Lee. “I will be standing maybe taller than Sen. Cornyn, forgive me for that, because it will be such an elevation of joy.”

The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday under a unanimous consent agreement that expedites the process for considering legislation. It takes just one senator’s objection to block such agreements.

The vote comes as lawmakers struggle to overcome divisions on police reform legislation following the killing of George Floyd by police and as Republican state legislators push what experts say is an unprecedented number of bills aimed at restricting access to the ballot box. While Republicans say the goal is to prevent voter fraud, Democrats contend that the measures are aimed at undermining minority voting rights.

Several Speak in Support of the Bill

Several members of the Congressional Black Caucus went to the floor to speak in favor of the bill. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., said she viewed Juneteenth as a commemoration rather than a celebration because it represented something that was delayed in happening.

“It also reminds me of what we don’t have today,” she said. “And that is full access to justice, freedom and equality. All these are often in short supply as it relates to the Black community.”

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and had 60 co-sponsors. Democratic leaders moved quickly to bring the bill to the House floor after the Senate’s vote the day before.

The vast majority of states recognize Juneteenth as a holiday or have an official observance of the day, and most states hold celebrations. Juneteenth is a paid holiday for state employees in Texas, New York, Virginia and Washington.

Republican Opposition

Some Republican lawmakers opposed the effort. Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., said creating the federal holiday was an effort to celebrate “identity politics.”

“Since I believe in treating everyone equally, regardless of race, and that we should be focused on what unites us rather than our differences, I will vote no,” he said in a press release.

Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said he would vote for the bill and that he supported the establishment of a federal holiday, but he was upset that the name of the holiday included the word “independence” rather than “emancipation.”

“Why would the Democrats want to politicize this by coopting the name of our sacred holiday of Independence Day?” Higgins asked.

Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich., replied, “I want to say to my white colleagues on the other side: Getting your independence from being enslaved in a country is different from a country getting independence to rule themselves.”

She added, “We have a responsibility to teach every generation of Black and white Americans the pride of a people who have survived, endured and succeeded in these United States of America despite slavery.”

The 14 House Republicans who voted against the bill are Andy Biggs of Arizona, Mo Brooks of Alabama, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Ronny Jackson of Texas, Doug LaMalfa of California, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tom McClintock of California, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Mike Rogers of Alabama, Matt Rosendale of Montana, Chip Roy of Texas and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Announces 2024 Graduate Deans’ Medalists

DON'T MISS

Yellen Says Threats to Democracy Risk US Economic Growth, an Indirect Jab at Trump

DON'T MISS

New Sea Route for Gaza Aid on Track. Treating Starving Children Is a Priority

DON'T MISS

At Time of Rising Antisemitism, Holocaust Survivors Take on Denial and Hate in New Digital Campaign

DON'T MISS

FUSD Trustees Name Misty Her as Interim Superintendent. National Search Yet to Start

DON'T MISS

Gov. Newsom Appoints Judges for Fresno, Merced Counties

DON'T MISS

Assemblymember Soria Dodges Questions About Defamation Lawsuit

DON'T MISS

Israel Briefs US on Evacuation Plan for Palestinians Ahead of Planned Rafah Assault

DON'T MISS

Canadian Police Make 3 Arrests in Sikh Separatist’s Slaying That Sparked a Spat with India

DON'T MISS

Three Arrested for Trespassing, Posting Flyers at Fresno Synagogue and Church

UP NEXT

Merced’s Treacherous ‘Tunnel Lane’ Removed from Northbound Highway 99

UP NEXT

US Airstrike Targeting Al-Qaida Leader in Syria Killed a Farmer, American Military Says

UP NEXT

Another State Department Official Resigns Over Biden’s Gaza Policy

UP NEXT

Senators Want Limits on Government’s Use of Facial Recognition Technology for Airport Screening

UP NEXT

Biden Says ‘Order Must Prevail’ on Campuses, but He Won’t Send National Guard

UP NEXT

Police Dismantle UCLA Tent Camp, Take Pro-Palestinian Protesters Into Custody

UP NEXT

Fresno State’s Randa Jarrar Dragged Out of Event Featuring Big Bang Theory’s Mayim Bialik

UP NEXT

Trump Calls Judge ‘Crooked’ After Facing a Warning of Jail Time if He Violates a Trial Gag Order

UP NEXT

Biden’s Historic Marijuana Shift Is His Latest Election Year Move for Young Voters

UP NEXT

The Latest | In Israel, Blinken Pushes Hamas to Agree on Gaza Cease-Fire Deal

At Time of Rising Antisemitism, Holocaust Survivors Take on Denial and Hate in New Digital Campaign

11 hours ago

FUSD Trustees Name Misty Her as Interim Superintendent. National Search Yet to Start

Local Education /

21 hours ago

Gov. Newsom Appoints Judges for Fresno, Merced Counties

22 hours ago

Assemblymember Soria Dodges Questions About Defamation Lawsuit

23 hours ago

Israel Briefs US on Evacuation Plan for Palestinians Ahead of Planned Rafah Assault

23 hours ago

Canadian Police Make 3 Arrests in Sikh Separatist’s Slaying That Sparked a Spat with India

24 hours ago

Three Arrested for Trespassing, Posting Flyers at Fresno Synagogue and Church

1 day ago

As They Search for a Superintendent, Fresno Trustees Flunk Econ 101

1 day ago

Universities Negotiate End to Protests, Open Dialogue on Investment Policies

1 day ago

Fresno Approves Hydrogen Contract for New Buses. How Far is the Filling Station?

1 day ago

Fresno State Announces 2024 Graduate Deans’ Medalists

Fresno State on Friday announced the 2024 Graduate Deans Medalists. The eight schools and colleges at Fresno State, along with the Division ...

9 hours ago

9 hours ago

Fresno State Announces 2024 Graduate Deans’ Medalists

10 hours ago

Yellen Says Threats to Democracy Risk US Economic Growth, an Indirect Jab at Trump

10 hours ago

New Sea Route for Gaza Aid on Track. Treating Starving Children Is a Priority

11 hours ago

At Time of Rising Antisemitism, Holocaust Survivors Take on Denial and Hate in New Digital Campaign

Local Education /
21 hours ago

FUSD Trustees Name Misty Her as Interim Superintendent. National Search Yet to Start

22 hours ago

Gov. Newsom Appoints Judges for Fresno, Merced Counties

23 hours ago

Assemblymember Soria Dodges Questions About Defamation Lawsuit

23 hours ago

Israel Briefs US on Evacuation Plan for Palestinians Ahead of Planned Rafah Assault

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend