Story: US Senate Passes 2016 Juneteenth Resolution

Senator Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] Senate Resolution 500 Recognizing June 19th, 2017 as Juneteenth Independence Day.

Passed Senate without amendment (06/16/2016)

Designates June 19, 2016, as Juneteenth Independence Day.

Recognizes the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day and supports the continued nationwide celebration of such Day as an opportunity to learn more about the past and to better understand the experiences that have shaped the United States.

Recognizes that the observance of the end of slavery is a part of the history and heritage of the United States.

Read: S.Res.500 – A resolution designating June 19, 2016, as “Juneteenth Independence Day” in recognition of June 19, 1865, the date on which slavery legally came to an end in the United States.