Submitted by Patrick Cassidy.
Anniversary of 1865 emancipation to become 11th federal holiday
with President Biden’s signature today
WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), voted last night to make Juneteenth (June 19) a national holiday, recognizing the anniversary of that date in 1865 when enslaved residents of Texas learned of their emancipation at the end of the Civil War. The measure was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 415 – 14. The Senate voted to pass the resolution on Tuesday, and President Biden is expected to sign it into law this afternoon. Rep. Courtney is a co-sponsor of the House version of the Juneteenth resolution, introduced by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas.
“I’ve come together for years with friends and folks all throughout our eastern Connecticut communities to commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth and the historic anniversary it recognizes,” said Congressman Courtney. “I was very pleased to see the Senate act on Tuesday and to give us an opportunity to pass this important measure in a landslide bipartisan vote, especially as it occurs just before this year’s celebrations on Saturday. This is the right thing to do, and it’s going to make this year’s Juneteenth celebrations even more special.”
