[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H3822-H3827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 56), celebrating the end of slavery in the 
United States.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 56

       Whereas news of the end of slavery came late to frontier 
     areas of the country, especially in the American Southwest;
       Whereas the African-Americans who had been slaves in the 
     Southwest thereafter celebrated Juneteenth as the anniversary 
     of their emancipation;
       Whereas their descendants handed down that tradition from 
     generation to generation as an inspiration and encouragement 
     for future generations;
       Whereas Juneteenth celebrations have thus been held for 130 
     years to honor the memory of all those who endured slavery 
     and especially those who moved from slavery to freedom; and
       Whereas their example of faith and strength of character 
     remains a lesson for all Americans today, regardless of 
     background or region or race: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That--
       (1) the celebration of the end of slavery is an important 
     and enriching part of our country's history and heritage;
       (2) the celebration of the end of slavery provides an 
     opportunity for all Americans to learn more about our common 
     past and to better understand the experiences that have 
     shaped our Nation; and
       (3) a copy of this joint resolution be transmitted to the 
     National Association of Juneteenth Lineage as an expression 
     of appreciation for its role in promoting the observance of 
     the end of slavery.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Pappas] and the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Cummings] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas].
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, ``Juneteenth'' has long been recognized as the date to 
celebrate the end of slavery in the United States. I congratulate my 
friend and the distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts], for 
introducing this resolution to underscore the importance of that 
development for our Nation.
  Juneteenth is the traditional celebration of the day on which the 
last slaves in America were freed. Although slavery was officially 
abolished in 1863, it took over two years for news of freedom to spread 
to all slaves. On June 19, 1865, U.S. General Gordon Granger rode into 
Galveston, Texas and announced that the State's 200,000 slaves were 
free. To make the date unforgettable, the former slaves coined the 
nickname ``Juneteenth,'' mixing the word ``June'' and ``nineteenth.''
  This holiday originated in the Southwest, but today it is celebrated 
throughout the Nation. The celebration of Juneteenth provides an 
opportunity for all Americans to learn more about our common past and 
to better understand the experiences that have shaped our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the gentleman from 
Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] for his leadership in guiding this bill to the 
House floor. I also thank the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton], 
chairman of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, and the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Waxman], the ranking member, for their 
support of this measure.
  For more than 100 years, African-Americans all over this country have 
been celebrating a very special day, Juneteenth. Juneteenth, on June 
19, commemorates a joyous day in 1865 when many of the slaves in the 
State of Texas first learned that they had been freed. Juneteenth is 
sometimes known as the African-American 4th of July.
  President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation went into 
effect on January 1, 1863. However, as most Americans know, the 
Emancipation Proclamation freed only those slaves in the States 
fighting against the Union in the Civil War. However, it was not until 
General Gordon Granger of the Union army arrived in Texas in 1865 that 
many of the slaves were informed that they had already been emancipated 
for over two years.
  As the news spread, African-Americans celebrated. Festive foods were 
prepared. Music was played. People danced and sang. Mr. Speaker, most 
importantly, they prayed.
  Then began the long journey down the road towards equality and 
justice, a journey we still find ourselves traveling on more than a 
century later. That is why African-Americans and all people of goodwill 
and humanity pause to celebrate this special day in history.

                              {time}  1600

  My good friend, the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Jesse L. Jackson, 
has defined these kinds of events as faith events. More than a 
celebration, Mr. Speaker, the commemoration of Juneteenth is a faith 
event. It is a time to thank our Creator for the renewal of our 
people's strength, their tenacity, their determination, and the amazing 
grace which has sustained their souls and their faith through this 
great hardship.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts].
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
kind words, and for the two gentlemen that have just articulated the 
thoughts on Juneteenth, I thank them both for their kind words and for 
their support of this legislation.
  I also want to thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil 
Service of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, the 
gentleman from Florida, Mr. John Mica, whose leadership was 
instrumental in bringing this bill to the floor today during Juneteenth 
week. I sincerely appreciate his hard work in making that happen.
  Mr. Speaker, as has been described here on the floor today, 
Juneteenth is the traditional celebration of the day on which the last 
slaves in America were freed. In September of 1862, in my opinion our 
greatest President, Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emanicipator, issued the 
Emancipation Proclamation which officially freed the slaves as of 
January 1, 1863, a full 87 years after the War of Independence began, 
with the support of thousands of black American patriots.
  But the official act and the actual liberation were separated by 
months of continuing war, and long distances and news of freedom was 
slow to travel during those remaining years of the Civil War. It was 
not until June 19, 1865 that word finally reached the people in one of 
the farthest corners of the South, Galveston, TX, when Gen. Gordon 
Granger marched into the city and announced that the State's 200,000 
slaves were free. That day has since been coined Juneteenth 
Independence Day and has been celebrated as such by tens of thousands 
of Americans and families for over 130 years.
  Today this congressional resolution, House Joint Resolution 56, seeks 
to honor the memory of all those who endured slavery. It seeks to 
remind us of their faith, their strength of character, and their long 
struggle for freedom and for equal rights. It seeks to remind us that 
America needed a second Independence Day to complete the work that was 
begun by our Founding Fathers on the Fourth of July, 1776.
  I hope all Americans will take a moment to recognize this Juneteenth 
Independence Day by remembering those who suffered, those who 
struggled, and those who finally triumphed over ignorance and hate to 
make a better world for their children and for their grandchildren. 
This is an opportunity to remember that we, too, are in the process 
every day of our lives of leaving a legacy to our own children and 
grandchildren.
  This Juneteenth perhaps is a time to consider whether our legacy will 
be as noble as those before us. Three months before General Granger 
rode into Galveston and 1 month before he was assassinated, President 
Lincoln gave a second inaugural address where he challenged his 
countrymen to strive on to finish the work we are in, ``with malice 
towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God 
gives us to see the right . . . to do all which may achieve and cherish 
a just and lasting peace.
  A just and lasting peace. That challenge reaches out across the 
generations. It is the reason we remember and

[[Page H3823]]

honor the great men and women who fought for the legacy of freedom that 
we honor on Juneteenth.
  Mr. Speaker, again I would like to thank the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Pappas].
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] 
for his statements. Juneteenth is a day to celebrate and pay homage to 
the endurance of African-American slaves and their determination to be 
free. It commemorates the tenacity and courage they exhibited to obtain 
that freedom. It is a tribute to those black Americans who fought so 
long and worked so hard for the dream of equality.
  Although Juneteenth is founded upon a painful past, it is now a day 
of celebration, fellowship, unity, and new beginnings: a faith event. 
When African-Americans were brought from Africa to this country as 
slaves, it was not only their bodies that were shackled. Their 
potential was also imprisoned. But no amount of enslavement, torture, 
humiliation, or murder was able to bound the souls, ambitions, or 
dreams of this dynamic and resilient people.
  No other class of citizens, with the exception of possibly the 
American Indian, has had their language, their culture, and their 
religion literally stripped from their identity, and still they 
survived. Indeed, we thrive. African-Americans are now doctors, 
lawyers, educators, Supreme Court justices, and 101 people once denied 
the right to even sit in the balconies of this Chamber have served as 
Members of the U.S. Congress. We have come far, Mr. Chairman, but we 
still have a long way to go.
  Juneteenth symbolizes the formal beginning of our march toward self-
determination and empowerment. At times progress along this march has 
been slow, almost imperceptible. Though technically free by law, there 
are new struggles which today seek to enslave and impede our people 
from fully realizing the bounty of the American dream. Crime, drug 
abuse, poverty, poor health, and substandard education continue to 
shackle the full development of African-American potential.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Nebraska [Mr. Christensen].
  Mr. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House 
Joint Resolution 56, the resolution celebrating the end of slavery in 
the United States. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, ``In giving freedom 
to the slave, we assure freedom to the free. Honorable alike in what we 
give and what we preserve, we shall nobly save or meanly lose the last 
best hope of earth.''
  With these words in December 1862, President Abraham Lincoln clearly 
defined his vision for a unified free America. Although it took the 
Civil War and three constitutional amendments to secure equal status 
for all U.S. citizens, Lincoln's moral leadership saved the last best 
hope of Earth from division and destruction.
  The end of slavery is one of the most significant events in U.S. 
history. That is why earlier this week I cosponsored, with Mr. Hall, an 
apology, to ask forgiveness, because I believe before this Nation can 
truly be healed, forgiveness must be sought and reconciliation must 
occur. I applaud the authors of this amendment and ask for the passage 
of House Joint Resolution 56.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee], a member of the Committee on the 
Judiciary and the Committee on Science and cosponsor of this 
legislation.
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding time to me, and I would express appreciation to the gentleman 
from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] for his leadership and his desire to bring 
this to the floor of the House.
  Mr. Speaker, Juneteenth or June 19, 1865 is considered the date when 
the last slaves in America were freed. Although rumors of freedom were 
widespread prior to this, actual emancipation did not come until Gen. 
Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, TX and issued order No. 3 on June 
19 which freed the estimated 200,000 slaves in the State of Texas. This 
is particularly special to Texans today, and this week many 
celebrations are going on in Texas. Texans will commemorate Juneteenth 
on June 19, as a State holiday created by the work of State 
Representative Al Edwards. Much study has been given to this historic 
event by Rev. C. Anderson Davis, who leads many activities regarding 
Juneteenth in Texas.
  Many may stop and ask the question, whether the word is in fact 
celebration or whether it is commemoration. I believe that any day 
someone rises and achieves freedom is a day to celebrate. Even though 
General Granger's announcement came almost 2\1/2\ years after President 
Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
  President Lincoln issued the proclamation on September 22, 1862 as a 
bid to reunite this Nation, after a block of Southern States left the 
Union. It included a provision to free all slaves in those States if 
they did not return to the Union. These States did not return to the 
Union, however this proclamation did not apply to those slave-holding 
States that did not rebel against the Union. This fact left about 
800,000 slaves unaffected by the provisions of the proclamation.
  The Civil War and the 13th amendment to the Constitution formally 
outlawed slavery in the United States. When Texas heard the news, those 
who were slaves did dance, they did sing, and they prayed. As I said, 
for many years individuals thought we should not say that, we should 
not acknowledge that there was a celebration, but I can surely say that 
freedom should be praised and it should be applauded.
  This day as we celebrate the bringing of this particular legislation, 
House Joint Resolution 56, let me applaud President Bill Clinton for 
his initiative, that there should be a racial healing. Let me also say 
that I support the legislation that will seek an apology for slavery in 
this country.
  If we are serious, a debate should be real. If we are serious, an 
apology should be given and accepted. If we are serious, we should go 
forth, heal the racial divide and build our communities economically, 
socially, and with justice for all of America by presenting to those of 
ethnic and minority background a true opportunity, viewing them as 
equal citizens under the law in the United States of America. I support 
legislation to acknowledge the end of slavery in America.
  Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor I rise in support of House Joint 
Resolution 56, which is celebrating the end of slavery in the United 
States.
  I would like to thank my colleague from the State of Oklahoma, for 
his leadership in bringing this legislation to the House of 
Representatives for consideration.
  Mr. Speaker, Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, is considered the date when 
the last slaves in America were freed. Although rumors of freedom were 
widespread prior to this, actual emancipation did not come until 
General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, TX and issued general order 
No. 3, on June 19, which freed the States estimated 200,000 slaves. 
General Granger's announcement came almost 2\1/2\ years after President 
Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
  Although President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. on 
September 22, 1862, as a bid to reunite the Nation after the block of 
Southern States had seceded from the Union it included a provision to 
free all slaves in those States if they did not return to the Union. 
These States did not return to the Union, and this proclamation did not 
apply to those slave-holding States that did not rebel against the 
Union. These facts left about 800,000 slaves unaffected by the 
provisions of the proclamation.
  The Civil war and the 13th amendment to the Constitution formally 
outlawed slavery in the United States.
  When slaves in Texas heard the news, they sang, danced, and prayed. 
There was much rejoicing and jubilation that their life long prayers 
had finally been answered. Many of the slaves left their masters 
immediately, upon begin freed, in search of family members, economic 
opportunities or simply because they could. They left with nothing but 
the clothes on their backs and hope in their hearts.
  Freedom; the right to name one's self, the right to have a marriage 
legally recognized, the right to assemble, the right to openly worship 
as one saw fit, and the right to learn how to read and write without 
fear.
  There were still many difficult journeys for former slaves to 
overcome. The abject poverty

[[Page H3824]]

and the racism that maintained it, prohibited any hope for assimilation 
into American society. In Texas, there were condemnations of those who 
would sell land to blacks. The Texas Homestead Act, passed during 
Reconstruction, the period following the Civil War, granted up to 160 
acres of free land to white persons only. The Texas legislature in 1866 
along with many legislatures across the Nation began to pass a new set 
of black codes which were designed to limit or reverse the gains ex-
slaves had been granted.

  Ex-slaves entered freedom penniless and homeless, with only the 
clothes on their backs. In the words of Frederick Douglas, ``free 
without roofs to cover them, or bread to eat, or land to cultivate, and 
as a consequence died in such numbers as to awaken the hope of their 
enemies that they would soon disappear.''
  Sharecropping emerged from this misery in Texas and all over the Deep 
South which kept blacks from starving, but had little to distinguish it 
from the slave life of blacks. By 1877, the end of Reconstruction, the 
North had abandoned black America to the will of Southern whites, who 
through violence, racial discrimination, and Jim Crow laws succeeded in 
disenfranchising them, resulting in more than a 100 years of oppression 
until the rise of the civil rights movement.
  Juneteenth during the decades following the end of slavery became for 
African-Americans a special day to celebrate the fruits of freedom 
which were and should have been fully theirs at the end of slavery.
  Over the few short decades from the civil rights movement Juneteenth 
has grown in prominence and recognition. It is a day that all Americans 
can and do celebrate as a reminder of the triumph of the human spirit 
over the cruelty of slavery. It honors those African-Americans who 
survived the inhumane institution of bondage, as well as a 
demonstration of pride in the marvelous legacy of resistance and 
perseverance they left us.
  Juneteenth should also serve as a day to recognize those who 
supported the abolitionist movement and the underground railroad which 
helped to pave our way to a nation not in conflict with its founding 
principles.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join in support of House Joint 
Resolution 56.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from Kentucky [Mrs. Northup].
  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues and 
friends, and in particular the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts], in 
commemorating this historic event. The Juneteenth celebration 
symbolizes the end of a practice which divided this country for 
hundreds of years. To this day, that practice continues to cause fear, 
distress, and anger, a practice that denied an entire race of people 
its rights, guaranteed to all Americans by our Constitution, a practice 
that stripped them of opportunity and oftentimes hope.
  But on this day, when we remember the close of a terrible chapter in 
our Nation's history, I believe we must look ahead rather than behind. 
We must look ahead to a Nation devoid of racial tension and then work 
toward that goal. Americans of all races must take it upon themselves 
to reach across that gulf of racial divisions to build friendships, 
relationships, and understanding so our children will know a world 
without prejudice.
  In a time and a country where blacks and whites do not even eat 
together, pray together, or play together, the Juneteenth celebration 
should serve as a reminder that there is still work to be done, and 
should encourage us to pursue the promise of an America which is indeed 
free for all.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, 6 years ago my colleague, the chairwoman of the 
Congressional Black Caucus, the gentlewoman from California, [Ms. 
Waters] came to Baltimore to deliver a most dynamic commencement 
address at Morgan State University, which is located in my district.
  During that address she said that African-Americans are the only 
class of citizens of this great Nation which has had to have landmark 
legislation and groundbreaking court decisions handed down throughout 
our Nation's history to force America to accept us as full citizens, 
with all the rights and privileges of that distinction.
  Mr. Speaker, on that great day, the gentlewoman from California [Ms. 
Waters] was right on point. In 1791, the fifth amendment was ratified, 
guaranteeing all persons due process under the law. In 1865, this 
country adopted the 13th amendment, officially doing away with slavery. 
In the course of one century the Congress of the United States has 
passed four civil rights acts giving all U.S. citizens the same rights 
enjoyed by whites, and finally, in 1974, the Congress enacted the 
Housing and Community Development Act.
  Almost two centuries have passed since this country began to make 
efforts to reconcile this inhuman past with this bright and hopeful 
future. But Mr. Speaker, I must reiterate that a full century after the 
Emancipation Proclamation, three decades since the Voting Rights Act, 
two generations since the landmark court decision of Brown versus the 
Board of Education, Americans, both black and white, still find 
themselves standing dumbfounded at the crossroads in race relations.
  Mr. Speaker, we can and we must do better. I want to take this 
opportunity to commend President Clinton for his encouraging our Nation 
to live up to its potential as we continue taking steps in America's 
long journey toward racial healing.
  In the President's address at the University of California, San 
Diego, last weekend, he had the courage to address the sensitive and 
critical issue of race relations. But we cannot allow a dialog on race 
to commence without fully addressing serious economic, social, and 
environmental systems that continue to fan the flames of 
misunderstanding.
  Until we address the root causes of joblessness and unemployment, 
health, poverty, and hunger, affordable housing and educational 
disparity, a discussion of race healing is premature.

                              {time}  1615

  The President has appointed a blue ribbon panel to advise him on the 
issue of race. But, Mr. Speaker, I agree with retired Maryland juvenile 
court judge Vincent Femia, who said:

       To appoint this group of people to study race is like 
     appointing a group of people to decide if they should repaint 
     the window frames of a house while the house is on fire. Yes, 
     maybe the window frames do need repainting, but, if you sit 
     around talking, pretty soon it is not going to make any 
     difference.

  If we are truly to have a dialog on race in America, it must begin 
with an honest, frank, and truthful discussion on how we treat and 
disrespect our Nation's poor and working families. If we do not do 
that, Mr. Speaker, any conversation we hope to have on racial healing 
will fall on deaf ears.
  We must face and overcome these critical problems as one nation; 
indivisible, with an eye toward justice and liberty for all.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Washington [Ms. Dunn], Secretary of the Republican Conference.
  Ms. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues, the 
gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] and the gentleman from New Jersey 
[Mr. Pappas], today to celebrate the end of slavery and its import in 
our country's history and in its heritage.
  Although slavery was abolished officially in 1863, the last slave was 
not freed until 2 years later; and we know that the struggle for equity 
did not end even then. In fact it will not truly be over until all men 
and women are equal, until people truly are judged by the content of 
their character rather than the color of their skins and until the time 
that those little boxes on applications for jobs no longer exist. I am 
proud to say I do believe we are on our way.
  I am pleased to join this celebration today to honor the memory of 
those who endured slavery and especially those who moved from slavery 
to freedom. The former slaves, just like George Washington and Abe 
Lincoln, Harriet Tubman or Martin Luther King, are true American 
heroes. I commend the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] and the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas] for introducing this resolution. 
I look forward to working very closely together with their leadership 
on this issue.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, there is a spiritual I learned as a little boy called 
``Faith of Our Fathers.'' It talks about an enduring faith in the 
ideals and principles of our forefathers. It goes like this; it says:

       Faith of our fathers, living still, in spite of dungeon, 
     fire and sword. Oh, how our hearts

[[Page H3825]]

     beat high with joy whene'er we hear that glorious word. Faith 
     of our fathers. Holy faith. We will be true to thee till 
     death.

  It goes on to say:

       Faith of our fathers, chained in prisons dark, were still 
     in heart and conscience free. How sweet would be their 
     children's fate. If they, like them, could die for thee. 
     Faith of our fathers. Holy faith. We will be true to thee 
     till death.

  Finally it says:

       Faith of our fathers. We will love both friend and foe in 
     all our strife; and preach thee, too, as love knows how, by 
     kindly words and virtuous life. Faith of our fathers. Holy 
     faith. We will be true to thee till death.

  The solution to these problems lies in creating and maintaining a 
vibrant economic base that will help our cities and families.
  Economic development is crucial to survival of the African-American 
community. One way of doing this is by mobilizing cooperative efforts 
between government, business and the community.
  Federal empowerment zones pair the Federal Government with 
economically distressed areas to provide incentives for entrepreneurs, 
established firms, and employees that invest and work in areas that 
they would otherwise find unattractive.
  Empowerment zones challenge communities to develop and submit 
strategic visions for creating jobs and opportunities.
  But we have to focus inwards as well. Those of us who have been 
blessed must acknowledge the obligation to return to our communities 
and give something back. We must invest in our human capital by acting 
as sources of inspiration and role models for our youth. African-
American youth need to be encouraged to believe in themselves and their 
abilities.
  By exposing our youth to new options, by opening their eyes to new 
alternatives, by showing our youth that we have faith in them, we can 
begin to instill in them the sense of pride and self-confidence 
necessary to prevent the high school dropout rates, illiteracy, teen 
pregnancy, and drug use that plagues our communities.
  But, Mr. Speaker, I fear that we have once again begun a sad march 
backwards in regard to educating the next generation already with the 
passage of proposition 209 in California. That great State has seen an 
alarming 80 percent reduction in the application of minorities to be 
part of the class of 2001. Will we once again slam the door in the 
faces of young people seeking to be the best that they can be? I 
certainly hope not.
  Mr. Speaker, we can and we must do better. June tenth celebrates and 
commemorates the joy and hope that the newly freed slaves felt in Texas 
on that day long ago in 1865. But it is also incumbent upon us to 
recommit ourselves this day to the continuing struggle for economic, 
political, educational, and social accomplishment if we are to realize 
the goal of this Nation's Declaration of Independence, that all men are 
created equal.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, Dr. King came to Washington over 34 years ago 
and spoke of a dream. But also on that historic day, he spoke of a 
promissory note of justice, equality, and freedom which America had 
defaulted upon. He said, it had been returned to the American Negro 
marked, and I quote, ``insufficient funds.''
  I believe that the promissory note is long overdue. America must now 
begin to live up to its full potential and finally offer all of her 
citizens the right to life, liberty, and the full pursuit of happiness.
  As we pause to remember Juneteenth, Mr. Speaker, I am reminded of a 
song recorded by the artist Michael Bolton. It is a song that I 
dedicate today to our ancestors, who came before us, to all of you 
wherever you may be, wherever your spirits are, we say to you that we 
will pick up the mantle and we will run with it. The song goes like 
this, and it is a very simple song but a very significant one. It says:
  I have often dreamed of a far off place where a heroes welcome would 
be waiting for me. Where the crowds will cheer when they see my face 
and a voice keeps saying this is where I am meant to be. I will be 
there someday. I can go the distance. I will find my way if I can be 
strong. I know every mile will be worth my while when I go the distance 
I will be right where I belong. I will go down the road to embrace my 
fate though that road may wander it will lead me to you. And a thousand 
years would be worth the wait it might take a lifetime but somehow I 
will see it through.
  And I will not look back I can go the distance and I will stay on 
track, no I will not accept defeat. It is an uphill slope but I won't 
lose hope until I go the distance and my journey ends for me.
  To look beyond the glory is the hardest part, for a heroes strength 
is measured by his heart.
  Like a shooting star, I will go the distance. I will search the 
world. I will face it all.
  I do not care how far, I can go the distance until I find my heroes 
welcome waiting in your arms.
  To our ancestors we say:
  I will search the world. I will face its harms until I find my heroes 
welcome waiting in your arms.
  That is what this faith event is truly all about, surviving hardships 
and going the distance. I urge the House to suspend the rules and pass 
House Joint Resolution 56.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the resolution before the House today resonates with all 
Members and with all citizens. Its importance is not limited to the 
descendants of slaves. Slavery was a blight on our Nation, a betrayal 
of the fundamental principles on which this Nation was founded, that 
all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with unalienable 
rights.
  The end of slavery was an indispensable step in implementing that 
principle for all citizens.
  I thank the distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma for sponsoring this 
resolution and shepherding it through the House. His own life is an 
inspiration for all Americans and forceful proof of what men and women 
can achieve in a free society.
  From humble origins he became a star quarterback at the University of 
Oklahoma. Now he is a distinguished Member of this House and a star 
among all our Members. His life and his career and the lives and 
achievements of countless Americans throughout this country remind us 
how much Juneteenth means to all Americans.
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Joint 
Resolution 54, on which I am proud to be listed as an original 
cosponsor. This constitutional amendment would empower Congress to 
prohibit the physical desecration of the American flag. My support for 
this amendment is based on my strong belief in the values of liberty, 
equality, and personal responsibility which Americans have fought to 
defend. The flag is a unifying symbol which uniquely embodies the 
values upon which our Nation was founded, grew, and will continue to 
prosper.
  As I stand here on the floor of the House of Representatives, I am 
reminded of the importance of the flag as something which brings us 
together when many other forces seem to pull us apart. This Chamber has 
seen debates on the most divisive issue facing our Nation. Much ado has 
been made of growing partisanship within this body. Yet, no matter what 
the issue of the day, we in the House of Representatives begin each day 
with the pledge of allegiance. At that point, we discard all other 
labels and collectively honor the flag which brings us together as one 
nation.
  Not that the flag represents identical things to all of us. To the 
veteran it may represent the challenges and triumphs of the 
battlefield. To an immigrant it may represent unimagined opportunity. 
To a skeptic it ensures the right to disagree while to many others it 
represents the power of majority rule.
  Americans live and think and work and worship in many different 
ways--not always compatibly and not always politely, but always under 
the same flag.
  The flag's desecration is an affront to the freedoms, justice, and 
democracy for which it stands. On a more personal level, the flag's 
desecration is also an affront to the memory of all Americans who were 
willing to sacrifice their very lives for free speech, free worship, 
free association. Some Americans made those sacrifices on foreign and 
domestic battlefields, some on the Underground Railroad to freedom, 
some on the western plains and mountains as they struggled to tame a 
wild land, some in the poverty of inner city challenges. Each and every 
one of these brave patriots fought for the ideals represented by our 
flag, and each and every one deserves our respect and gratitude.
  Protection of our flag is a noble goal which I strongly support. As 
our Nation prepares to

[[Page H3826]]

celebrate Flag Day, it is important that each of us find ways in which 
we can not only protect but also honor this most central of national 
symbols. Our flag is honored when we love our land, our families, and 
our rights. Our flag is honored when people speak out about injustice. 
Our flag is honored when someone risks their own comfort and position 
to help another.
  I challenge every man, woman, and child who loves this Nation to find 
ways to honor the values which our flag embodies and I urge my 
colleagues to support House Joint Resolution 54.
  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 130th year 
of the celebration of Juneteenth.
  Juneteenth is the traditional celebration of the anniversary of 
emancipation. And, just as those former slaves vowed on June 19, 1865, 
to never forget the day slavery was officially abolished, we too must 
never forget slavery and the brave men and women who endured its 
horrible monstrosities. On June 14 and 15, 75,000 western New Yorkers 
upheld the vow to never forget the abolishment of slavery and those who 
endured it.
  The celebration of Juneteenth has also developed into a forum for the 
proud display of African-American culture and history. This grand 
history lesson not only helps us look back, but it helps us all look 
forward. We should now be looking forward to and working towards an era 
of unprecedented peace and reconciliation. House Joint Resolution 56, 
introduced by Mr. Watts, is an excellent opportunity for this Congress 
and this Nation to take a step in that direction.
  Mr. Speaker, today I would like to join with the tens of thousands of 
western New Yorkers, and millions of Americans across the Nation in 
recognition of the Juneteenth and this historic celebration of the end 
of slavery in America.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 
56, a resolution of the Congress acknowledging the celebration of 
Juneteenth as an important and enriching part of our Nation's heritage. 
Juneteenth commemorates the day, June 19, 1865, when word of the end of 
slavery in the United States reached the American Southwest. Although 
President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 
1863, it took some 2\1/2\ years for the news to reach Texas and other 
southwestern slave-holding States. Former slaves in the region coined 
the term ``Juneteenth'' to recall the date they received the news of 
their freedom, and they celebrated the anniversary of emancipation at 
this time each year. As descendants of these former slaves have spread 
throughout the Nation, the 130-year-old celebration has spread as well. 
Today, Juneteenth is celebrated by many African-Americans in most of 
the now 50 States.
  Mr. Speaker, Juneteenth marks the close of a very long and dark 
chapter of our Nation's history--and the beginning of America's attempt 
to make its promise of freedom, liberty, and equality ring true for all 
Americans. The succeeding 130 years have brought momentous changes in 
our society. Through struggle and sacrifice, in the face of violent 
hostility and grave indignities, African-Americans have injected 
substance into the mantra equal justice under law, and we are today a 
freer, stronger Nation for it. Juneteenth is thus a time for 
celebrating the freedoms now guaranteed to all Americans through the 
Constitution and laws of our great land, and for reflecting on the 
courage of those who endured slavery and who fought to make America 
fulfill the promise of its founding principles. It is also, Mr. 
Speaker, a time to renew the commitment to correct inequalities and 
injustices which persist. Thus, although Juneteenth finds its origins 
in the southwest, it is clearly a celebration which embodies lessons of 
immense value and significance for all Americans across this great 
Nation.
  I commend my colleague Congressman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma for 
introducing this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to support 
House Joint Resolution 56.
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of House 
Joint Resolution 56, in support of this legislation granting special 
recognition to the date of June 19, or Juneteenth, the date that the 
last slaves were considered freed in the United States, in 1865. I 
commend my colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] for 
writing and introducing this legislation.
  Dr. Martin Luther King, in his famous ``I Have a Dream'' speech, said 
he looked forward to a day when people would be judged not by the color 
of their skin, but by the content of their character. We have come a 
long way toward this goal as a nation since the first Juneteenth almost 
132 years ago. I believe we have come a long way since Dr. King gave 
his speech. But it would not be correct--and it would not even be 
American--to suggest that we do not yet have a ways to go before Dr. 
King's dream is fulfilled.
  To succeed as a nation, we should return to basic principles. One of 
these is to recognize and celebrate the fact that we are all Americans. 
The motto of this Nation is ``E Pluribus Unum''--out of many, one. Out 
of many nations, races, and faiths, we have all come together in this 
land called America. We are united by our Constitution, our laws, our 
flag, and our desire to achieve the American dream and a better future 
for our children.
  The celebration of Juneteenth continues the American march of 
embracing, celebrating, and advancing the cause of freedom in our own 
land, and around the globe. Of that, we can be proud, but we can never 
be content.
  I would like to insert into the Record an essay published by the 
National Christian Juneteenth Leadership Council, describing the 
history of Juneteenth.

                    The BLACK CHURCH AND JUNETEENTH

                  Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom


                          what is juneteenth?

       Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, is considered the date when 
     the last slaves in America were freed. Although the rumors of 
     freedom were widespread prior to this, actual emancipation 
     did not come until General Gordon Granger rode into 
     Galveston, Texas and issued General Order No. 3, on June 19, 
     almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln 
     signed the Emancipation Proclamation.


      but didn't the emancipation proclamation free the enslaved?

       President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on 
     September 22, 1862, notifying the states in rebellion against 
     the Union that if they did not cease their rebellion and 
     return to the Union by January 1, 1863, he would declare 
     their slaves forever free. Needless to say, the proclamation 
     was ignored by those states that seceded from the Union. 
     Furthermore, the proclamation did not apply to those slave-
     holding states that did not rebel against the Union. As a 
     result about 800,000 slaves were unaffected by the provisions 
     of the proclamation. It would take a civil war to enforce the 
     Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment to the U.S. 
     Constitution to formally outlaw slavery in the United States.


                     when is juneteenth celebrated?

       Annually, on June 19, in more than 200 cities in the United 
     States. Texas (and Oklahoma) is the only state that has made 
     Juneteenth a legal holiday. Some cities sponsor week-long 
     celebrations, culminating on June 19, while others hold 
     shorter celebrations.


                     why is juneteenth celebrated?

       It symbolizes the end of slavery. Juneteenth has come to 
     symbolize for many African-Americans what the fourth of July 
     symbolizes for all Americans--freedom. It serves as a 
     historical milestone reminding Americans of the triumph of 
     the human spirit over the cruelty of slavery. It honors those 
     African-Americans ancestors who survived the inhumane 
     institution of bondage, as well as demonstrating pride in the 
     marvelous legacy of resistance and perserverance they left 
     us.


    why not just celebrate the fourth of july like other americans?

       Blacks do celebrate the Fourth of July in honor of American 
     Independence Day, but history reminds us that blacks were 
     still enslaved when the United States obtained its 
     independence.


     why were slaves in texas the last to know that they were free?

       During the Civil War, Texas did not experience any 
     significant invasion by Union forces. Although the Union army 
     made several attempts to invade Texas, they were thwarted by 
     Confederate troops. As a result, slavery in Texas continued 
     to thrive. In fact, because slavery in Texas experienced such 
     a minor interruption in its operation, many slave owners from 
     other slave-holding states brought their slaves to Texas to 
     wait out the war. News of the emancipation was suppressed due 
     to the overwhelming influence of the slave owners.
  Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of House Joint 
Resolution 56 and I urge my colleagues to support it. This nonbinding 
resolution would celebrate the end of slavery.
  The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 is the celebrated document 
which symbolizes the end of slavery in the United States. However, it 
took over 2 years for news of freedom to reach Texas. It was not until 
June 19, 1865 when U.S. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston and 
announced that the State's 200,000 slaves were free, that slavery was 
truly abolished throughout all of the United States. In an attempt 
never to forget this truly historical day, African-Americans who were 
slaves and their descendants refer to this day as Juneteenth, and they 
have been celebrating this date annually for over 130 years.
  This measure would bring public attention to this very meaningful 
passage in American history. An official recognition of Juneteenth 
provides an opportunity for all Americans to learn more about the 
legacy of this country. Equally important, an official recognition of 
Juneteenth reflects the desire of the American people to acknowledge 
all aspects of our past, even those painful aspects, and build a 
unified thus stronger bridge together into our future.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues here today to offer my 
support for

[[Page H3827]]

House Joint Resolution 56 which calls for the celebration of the end of 
slavery. The need to celebrate the end of this most dubious time in 
America's short history, pervades the thoughts of many, though more so 
during this month of June.
  During the month of June and, specifically, June 13-19, thousands of 
people, especially blacks, come together to celebrate the end of 
slavery. The celebration, called Juneteenth, commemorates the date in 
1865 when slaves in Texas discovered, a full 2\1/2\ years after the 
fact, that President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation 
Proclamation. Slaveowners in eastern Texas successfully hid the news of 
their emancipation for 2\1/2\ years. They were not notified of their 
freedom until Union army officers told them on June 19, 1865, hence the 
name Juneteenth.
  Juneteenth has been recognized as a holiday in Texas for quite some 
time, but has extended beyond Texas borders in recent years. Juneteenth 
is celebrated throughout many communities nationwide, incorporating 
parades, musical performances, and other festivities.
  Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation did much to dismantle the 
structure of slavery, but did not dismantle the institution. The story 
of those eastern Texas slaves is a visceral reminder of the fact that 
even after the Emancipation Proclamation, many slaves were indeed, not 
free. Throughout the South, slaves were not notified of their freedom 
by landowners for years. The problem was not confined to the South.
  In my home State of New Jersey, as of the same year, 1865, the 
Democratic controlled State legislature still refused to ratify the 
13th amendment, which abolished slavery. Clearly they were not free 
either. In 1866, the republican State legislature ratified the 13th 
amendment along with the 14th amendment, which guaranteed the 
citizenship rights of everyone born in the United States. But this 
same legislature refused to grant the franchise to blacks. In 1868, the 
again Democrat controlled State legislature rescinded the ratification 
of the 14th amendment and 2 years later in 1870, refused to ratify the 
15th amendment which extended the franchise to all races.

  The saving grace of the New Jersey blacks was that enough States 
ratified the amendment to make it national law. It is evident that the 
plight of the slave and black families did not end with Lincoln's 
proclamation, nor was it confined to Southern boundaries.
  Even after such amendments, it took still longer for blacks to 
acculture themselves to rights afforded to the free American citizen. 
It is the cultural metamorphosis of the African and the slave into the 
unique experience of the African-American that truly marks 
emancipation. The Juneteenth celebration is much larger than a 
celebration commemorating the long-overdue emancipation of the eastern 
Texas slaves, it is a celebration of the long overdue emancipation of 
all slaves. It is a celebration of the dismantling of the slavery 
institution; a dismantling of the bureaucratic engine that sought to 
halt black's freedom, long after their emancipation was declared, not 
unlike the Texas slave master.
  Though Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery, it is by no means 
just an African-American holiday. Juneteenth is a celebration which 
brings together everyone. It is important for everyone to remember and 
acknowledge this chapter in American history. We all have to take 
responsibility.
  This past week President Clinton made a great stride in opening a 
national dialog on race relations. His plan to establish a Presidential 
advisory board to allow Americans to speak out about racial issues 
shows initiative and a willingness to confront the ongoing racial 
tensions in our multicultural society. We can only hope that President 
Clinton's good intentions will be buttressed by action. In closing I 
ask that you join me and my colleagues in supporting House Joint 
Resolution 56. I thank you for your time and consideration.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore [Mr. Gibbons]. The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass to the joint resolution, House Joint 
Resolution 56.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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