Senate passes the measure unanimously.
June 19, 1865, was when news of the emancipation of slaves reached the southwestern United States. In celebration, bipartisan legislation was introduced that would make Juneteenth National Independence Day a federal holiday.
The next stop for the legislation is the House of Representatives where passage is expected, and then it will go to the president’s desk for his signature and become law.
Minnesota Senator Tina Smith tweeted, “It is ours to honor the legacy of our ancestors, our to celebrate and ours to remember where we once were as a people. And it should be a national holiday observed by all Americans.”
Senator John Cornyn of Texas stated on social media, “Happy that my bill to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday just passed the Senate. It has been a state holiday in Texas for more than 40 years. Now more than ever, we need to learn from our history and continue to form a more perfect union.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the House of Representatives as its members consider making Juneteenth a national holiday.
- For U.S. officials in federal, state, and local government to continue to protect civil liberties.
- For the president and his administration to defend freedom as policies and programs are developed.
Sources: Washington Examiner, Twitter
