[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    140TH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNETEENTH

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                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 2005

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 140th anniversary 
of Juneteenth. On June 19, 1865, General Gordan Granger of the Union 
Army arrived in Galveston, Texas with news of the Emancipation 
Proclamation and the end of the Civil War. Although President Abraham 
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 
1863, it took almost two and a half years for the Proclamation to be 
enforced throughout all of the United States.
  The 140th anniversary of Juneteenth is a significant milestone in 
American history. Juneteenth is a reference point from which to 
appreciate the progress made by African Americans in our society. The 
140th anniversary coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery 
Bus Boycott in 1955 and the 40th anniversary of Congressional enactment 
of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
  I would like to congratulate Representative Danny Davis of Illinois 
for his resolution recognizing the historical significance of 
Juneteenth. As Representative Davis says, ``History should be regarded 
as a means for understanding the past and solving the future.'' As we 
look back and honor the past, let us celebrate the progress we have 
made as a Nation.
  The Voting Rights Act, arguably the most successful piece of civil 
rights legislation ever, is set to expire in 2007. Congress and the 
President must reauthorize the act to ensure fairness in our political 
process and equal opportunity for minorities in American politics. 
Congress must also address the unfortunate disparities facing African 
Americans, which persist in every aspect of daily life. I congratulate 
my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus who have created an 
agenda to address these inequalities. We as Americans must work to 
eliminate injustices and move toward the goal of full equality.

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