June 19th, also known as Juneteenth, is a historic day in the United States commemorating the emancipation of the final slaves in Texas after the Civil War. It signifies the official end of slavery in the country and is now set to become a federal holiday.
Congress recently approved a bill with a 415-14 majority vote to establish Juneteenth National Independence Day as the 12th official federal holiday in the United States. This makes Juneteenth the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was designated in 1983 by former President Ronald Reagan.
“Our federal holidays are intentionally few and mark significant milestones,” stated New York Democratic Representative Carolyn Maloney. “The end of slavery in the United States is a crucial milestone worth commemorating.”
“We owe it to every generation of Americans, regardless of race, to acknowledge the resilience and achievements of people who survived slavery in the USA,” emphasized Michigan Democratic Representative Brenda Lawrence.
“The bill is passed.”
BREAKING: The House passes bill establishing Juneteenth as a national holiday. The bill now heads to Pres. Biden’s desk for his signature. https://t.co/UDnotcQKi3 pic.twitter.com/gHEHYPP5S2
— ABC News (@ABC) June 16, 2021
Following the bill’s approval, it is awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature, which is confirmed to take place two days prior to Juneteenth. The signing ceremony is scheduled for today at 3:30 PM Eastern Time in the White House’s East Room, where both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver statements regarding the new holiday.
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