[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 103 (Wednesday, June 19, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E799-E800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF JUNETEENTH NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE KING

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 19, 2019

  Mr. KING of Iowa. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to recognize, June 
19th, 2019 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day. Juneteenth, or the 
``19th of June'', recognizes the day, in 1865, in Galveston, Texas, 
when Union Army Major General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all 
slaves in Texas.
  Major General Granger's arrival in Galveston occurred more than two 
years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and enforced by 
President Lincoln. Upon the issuance of General Order No. 3 by Major 
General Granger, the former slaves, and now free men and women 
celebrated ecstatically. Currently, 46 states recognize Juneteenth as 
an official state holiday.
  In 2002, I proposed ``An Act relating to the designation of a 
Juneteenth National Freedom Day'' in the Iowa Senate. That bill was 
enacted by the Iowa General Assembly and was signed into law by then 
Governor Thomas J. Vilsack. The proclamation encouraged all state 
governmental entities, civil organizations, educational institutions to 
``observe the day ... (the third Saturday in June) in a manner that 
emphasizes the meaning and importance of the Emancipation Proclamation 
that ended slavery and to recognize and celebrate the importance of 
[Juneteenth] to every person who cherishes liberty and equality for all 
people.'' This historic legislation was passed unanimously by the Iowa 
State House and Senate, and the signature by Governor Vilsack 
designated Iowa as the seventh state to recognize Juneteenth as a state 
holiday.
  Madam Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to recognize Juneteenth 
National Freedom Day and I hope we, as a Congress, continue to 
recognize and to acknowledge this important piece of American history 
and the advancements we have made since then.

                                SSB 3151

An Act relating to the designation of a Juneteenth National Freedom Day

       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa:
       Section 1. New Section. 1C.12 Juneteenth National Freedom 
     Day.
       The governor of this state is hereby authorized and 
     requested to issue annually a proclamation designating the 
     third Saturday in June as Juneteenth National Freedom Day and 
     to encourage all governmental entities, civic organizations, 
     schools, and institutions of higher education in the state to 
     observe the day in a manner that emphasizes the meaning and 
     importance of the emancipation proclamation that ended 
     slavery in the United States and to recognize and celebrate 
     the importance of this day to every person who cherishes 
     liberty and equality for all people.


                              explanation

       This bill authorizes and requests the governor to issue 
     annually a proclamation designating the third Saturday in 
     June as Juneteenth National Freedom Day. The proclamation is 
     also intended to encourage all governmental entities, civic 
     organizations, schools, and institutions of higher education 
     in the state to observe the day in a manner that emphasizes 
     the meaning and importance of the emancipation proclamation 
     that ended slavery in the United States and to recognize and 
     celebrate the importance of this day to every person who 
     cherishes liberty and equality for all people.

                                SF 2273

                        (Successor to SSB 3151)

       Passed Senate, Date 2/28/02; Passed House, Date 3/21/02.
       Vote: Ayes 47 Nays 0; Vote: Ayes 95 Nays 0.
       Approved April 11, 2002.

  An Act relating to the designation of a Juneteenth National Freedom 
                                  Day.

       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa:
       Section 1. New Section. 1C.12 Juneteenth National Freedom 
     Day.
       The governor of this state is hereby authorized and 
     requested to issue annually a

[[Page E800]]

     proclamation designating the third Saturday in June as 
     Juneteenth National Freedom Day and to encourage all 
     governmental entities, civic organizations, schools, and 
     institutions of higher education in the state to observe the 
     day in a manner that emphasizes the meaning and importance of 
     the emancipation proclamation that ended slavery in the 
     United States and to recognize and celebrate the importance 
     of this day to every person who cherishes liberty and 
     equality for all people.


                              explanation

       This bill authorizes and requests the governor to issue 
     annually a proclamation designating the third Saturday in 
     June as Juneteenth National Freedom Day. The proclamation is 
     also intended to encourage all governmental entities, civic 
     organizations, schools, and institutions of higher education 
     in the state to observe the day in a manner that emphasizes 
     the meaning and importance of the emancipation proclamation 
     that ended slavery in the United States and to recognize and 
     celebrate the importance of this day to every person who 
     cherishes liberty and equality for all people.
                                                   Mary E. Kramer,
                                          President of the Senate.
                                                   Brent Siegrist,
                                             Speaker of the House.
       I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate 
     and is know as Senate File 2273, Seventy-ninth General 
     Assembly.
                                              Michael E. Marshall,
                                          Secretary of the Senate.
       Approved 4/11, 2002.
                                                Thomas J. Vilsack,
     Governor.

                          ____________________