Congresswoman Manning, House Members Vote to make Juneteenth a Federal Holiday

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06) voted in favor of S.475, the bill to make Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, a federal holiday. Congresswoman Manning is also a cosponsor of "The 2021 Observance of Juneteenth Independence Day" resolution. S. 475 passed the Senate earlier this week and today, it passed the House of Representatives. This bill now travels to President Biden's desk for his signature to make it law.

"Today's passage of legislation to commemorate Juneteenth as a federal holiday is a long overdue recognition of the stain on our nation's history that was slavery, a much-needed acknowledgement of the suffering endured by generations of enslaved Africans and African Americans, and a celebration of their descendants' freedom," said Congresswoman Manning. "It is horrifying to know that it was not util June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, that news of freedom finally reached all enslaved people, and it is appropriate that we enshrine Juneteenth into our nation's history and uplift this date as a time of remembrance and celebration. To fulfill the promise of our Constitution, we must continue to fight for justice and equality for all Americans."

Juneteenth is the celebration of the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the end of the Civil War and slavery. Although President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years prior, on January 1, 1863, it wasn't until after Major General Granger made the announcement in Galveston that all enslaved people were freed. Juneteenth is a symbolic date representing African American freedom and has long been celebrated by members of the African American community.

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