[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 569 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 569

Recognizing former Texas State Representative Al Edwards as the father 
 of Juneteenth and showing appreciation for successfully passing Texas 
 House Bill 1016, making Texas the first State to recognize Juneteenth 
                (June 19) as an official State holiday.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 30, 2023

   Mr. Green of Texas (for himself, Ms. Waters, and Mr. Thompson of 
Mississippi) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
             the Committee on Oversight and Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing former Texas State Representative Al Edwards as the father 
 of Juneteenth and showing appreciation for successfully passing Texas 
 House Bill 1016, making Texas the first State to recognize Juneteenth 
                (June 19) as an official State holiday.

Whereas Al Edwards was the first legislator to pass legislation making 
        Juneteenth (June 19) a State holiday;
Whereas Albert Ely ``Al'' Edwards was a civil rights activist and former Texas 
        house member of the Texas Legislature, serving in the legislature from 
        1978 to 2007 and then from 2009 to 2011;
Whereas Al Edwards was born on March 19, 1937, as the sixth child of Rev. E.L. 
        Edwards, Sr., and Josephine Radford Edwards;
Whereas Al Edwards dedicated his career to championing human rights causes, such 
        as making Americans aware of the significance of June 19, 1865, later 
        known as Juneteenth;
Whereas, while serving in the Texas Legislature, Al Edwards served as the Texas 
        State Director for Reverend Jesse Jackson's Presidential campaigns in 
        1984 and 1988;
Whereas Al Edwards also founded ``Operation Justus'', a community-based 
        organization that served as a referral service for persons with social 
        problems and concerns;
Whereas, in 1987, he was arrested and went to jail for peacefully protesting the 
        apartheid regime in South Africa;
Whereas, throughout his tenure in the State legislature, Al Edwards served as 
        the Chairman of the Rules and Resolutions Committee, Chairman of Budget 
        and Oversight of the Ways and Means Committee, and a member of the 
        Appropriations Committee;
Whereas he was elected the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee's Black 
        Caucus and held that position for 6 years;
Whereas, in 1999, the Honorable Al Edwards was appointed Chairman of the Texas 
        Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural and Historical Commission by then-
        Governor George W. Bush;
Whereas Al Edwards is also referred to as ``Mr. Juneteenth'' because of his 
        tireless commitment to the establishment of Juneteenth as a State 
        holiday in Texas through Texas House Bill 1016;
Whereas Al Edwards advocated for Juneteenth's recognition nationwide through 
        work with State legislatures over his decades-long career;
Whereas ultimately Al Edwards was successful in creating a holiday which 
        recognizes the day enslaved individuals in Texas were notified of their 
        newfound freedom;
Whereas today Juneteenth is recognized as a Federal holiday and is celebrated by 
        millions nationwide; and
Whereas, because Al Edwards laid the foundation for Juneteenth becoming a 
        Federal holiday, we resolve to recognize him as the father of 
        Juneteenth: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as ``The Original Resolution 
Recognizing Al Edwards as the Father of Juneteenth''.

SEC. 2. RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION.

    The House of Representatives recognizes former Texas State 
Representative Al Edwards as the father of Juneteenth and shows 
appreciation for his extraordinary work to garner recognition for the 
day.
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