[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 14, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H2927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am excited this week to introduce H. 
Res. 505, a bill to again commemorate and honor Juneteenth.
  Juneteenth should be a holiday that brings all Americans together 
because it is about freedom, freedom of a people. It was when General 
Granger came to Galveston, Texas, with General Order No. 3, to release 
the slaves who had been held an extra 2 years because a State would not 
listen.
  It is a holiday that brings us together. There will be commemorations 
in Galveston. There will be commemorations in Houston, Texas, proudly 
bringing people from all ethnic backgrounds together, from Friday all 
the way to the Juneteenth holiday.
  I am very proud to acknowledge Opal Lee, the grandmother of 
Juneteenth, who brought a million petitions here to say that we need a 
Federal holiday.
  I am proud to honor the late Representative Al Edwards, who 
introduced the first bill to make it a State holiday in Texas. I was 
very glad to be inspired by him and mentored by him to introduce the 
Federal legislation, introducing the resolution for 10 years and then 
finally achieving my goal, our goal, to have a Federal holiday.
  It is a holiday for all people. Let us celebrate Juneteenth on June 
19. Do something in your community that heals, welcomes, and joins each 
community together.
  It is about freedom of a people, freedom of America, and our 
wonderful democracy.

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