[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 57 (Thursday, May 11, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4466-S4467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I rise to mark ``Juneteenth,'' the 
day in 1865 when General Gordon Granger issued his order proclaiming 
America's remaining slaves free.
  On June 19, 1865, MG Gordon Granger and a group of Union soldiers 
landed at Galveston, TX. With their landing, they announced that the 
war had ended and that the slaves were now free. This was more than 2 
years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had 
little impact in Texas.
  Though initially celebrated in Galveston, TX, Juneteenth is now 
observed nationwide. Americans from all racial and ethnic backgrounds 
celebrate Juneteenth. And while this day holds a special resonance for 
descendants of slaves, Juneteenth provides an important opportunity for 
us all to commemorate a central tenent of our great country: that we 
are all created equal. This Juneteenth let us all celebrate this 
milestone in the struggle for liberty by recommitting ourselves to the 
advancement of justice for all.
  The stain of slavery can never be erased from the history of our 
Nation, and should never be forgotten. In celebrating Juneteenth, we 
also honor those who suffered under slavery and help to further our 
understanding of our Nation's history.
  One of the most common elements of Juneteenth celebrations is the 
singing of ``Lift Every Voice and Sing,'' written by James Weldon 
Johnson. I am happy to provide these lyrics of this great American 
song:

                       Lift Every Voice and Sing

     Lift every voice and sing
     Till earth and heaven ring,

[[Page S4467]]

     Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
     Let our rejoicing rise
     High as the listening skies,
     Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
     Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught 
           us,
     Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,
     Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
     Let us march on till victory is won.

     Stony the road we trod,
     Bitter the chastening rod,
     Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
     Yet with a steady beat,
     Have not our weary feet
     Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
     We have come over a way that with tears have been watered,
     We have come, treading our path through the blood of the 
           slaughtered,
     Out from the gloomy past,
     Till now we stand at last
     Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

     God of our weary years,
     God of our silent tears,
     Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
     Thou who has by Thy might
     Led us into the light,
     Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
     Lest our feet stray from the places, Our God, where we met 
           Thee;
     Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget 
           Thee;
     Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
     May we forever stand.
     True to our GOD,
     True to our native land.

  --James Weldon Johnson.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of the 
first day designated to the conservation of the world's endangered 
species. I would like to take a moment to thank my Senate colleagues 
for unanimously designating this special day, and especially to my 
Senate cosponsors for helping to make this day possible.
  Let me also commend my constituent Mr. David Robinson for suggesting 
the establishment of Endangered Species Day. I appreciate his hard work 
and dedication. Today's designation shows that individuals like Mr. 
Robinson do make a difference.
  I am encouraged to learn that today many fine institutions across our 
country will use the opportunity of Endangered Species Day to bolster 
public awareness about the threats facing endangered species worldwide. 
From lectures at local zoos to birding trips with regional Audubon 
chapters, events are being held nationwide to commemorate this day. My 
hope is that Endangered Species Day will spark the wonder and interest 
among young people, students, and the general public about how they can 
become more involved in these conservation efforts.
  In fact, I am proud to note that in my State of California, 
conservation and management efforts have helped significantly to 
restore California condor, winter run chinook salmon, and California 
gray whale populations. It is remarkable that even species once 
believed to have been extinct, such as the mount diablo buckwheat and 
the ventura marsh milk vetch, have been newly found in our State. The 
dedicated conservation efforts of volunteers, organizations, 
businesses, private landowners, and government agencies have proved 
effective in rehabilitating many endangered species populations.
  We can be encouraged by these developments. These instances 
demonstrate that with responsible management we can halt endangered 
species from continuing down the path towards extinction.
  Such success stories also show that more needs to be done to ensure 
the survival of these species. There are more than 1,000 species in the 
U.S. and abroad that are designated as ``at risk'' of extinction. With 
awareness comes responsibility, and it is my hope that Endangered 
Species Day will inspire continued action in response to the precarious 
circumstances of endangered species.
  Mr. President, I hope that communities across the country take 
advantage of this special day to discuss ways that they can participate 
in conservation efforts for endangered species in their State, 
throughout the country, and around the world.

                          ____________________