US Senate approved "Juneteenth" (June 19th) as a federal holiday by unanimous consent

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The Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would make Juneteenth, or June 19th, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

The bill would lead to Juneteenth becoming the 12th federal holiday. It is expected to easily pass the House, which would send it to President Joe Biden for his signature.

Juneteenth commemorates when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free. Confederate soldiers surrendered in April 1865, but word didn’t reach the last enslaved Black people until June 19, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to Galveston, Texas. That was also about two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves in the Southern states.

“Making Juneteenth a federal holiday is a major step forward to recognize the wrongs of the past,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “But we must continue to work to ensure equal justice and fulfill the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation and our Constitution.”

The Senate passed the bill under a unanimous consent agreement that expedites the process for considering legislation. It takes just one senator’s objection to block such agreements.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., had objected in the previous Congress to a bill to celebrate Juneteenth as a federal holiday because of the cost and lack of debate, he said. Johnson noted that he has supported resolutions recognizing the significance of Juneteenth, but he was concerned the new holiday would give federal employees another day off at a cost of about $600 million per year.

“While it still seems strange that having taxpayers provide federal employees paid time off is now required to celebrate the end of slavery, it is clear that there is no appetite in Congress to further discuss the matter. Therefore, I do not intend to object,” Johnson said in a statement before Tuesday’s vote.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and had 60 co-sponsors. He tweeted Monday: “We have a long road towards racial justice in the United States and we cannot get there without acknowledging our nation’s original sin of slavery. It is long past time to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.”

The vast majority of states recognize Juneteenth as a holiday or have an official observance of the day, and most states hold celebrations. Juneteenth is a paid holiday for state employees in Texas, New York, Virginia and Washington.

Under the legislation, the federal holiday would be known as Juneteenth National Independence Day.
https://apnews.com/article/senate-appro ... d0a221e452
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Re: US Senate approved "Juneteenth" (June 19th) as a federal holiday by unanimous consent

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The only reason the Repug Senators didn’t contest it was because they didn’t vote on it. They voted on a motion to accept the bill unanimously. Had they voted on the bill itself they would have many voted no.

I expect the usual Repug idiots to cause a stink in the House, but it will pass. We need to also remember that Juneteenth started in Texas. That was the date the Slaves and others, in Texas, learned about the Emancipation Proclamation that Lincoln signed.
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.-Huxley
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." ~ Louis Brandeis,

Re: US Senate approved "Juneteenth" (June 19th) as a federal holiday by unanimous consent

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The bill passed the House today, it now goes to the WH for Biden's signature.

14 House Republicans voted against the bill.
Here are the lawmakers who voted against the Juneteenth bill:

Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona
Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama
Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia
Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee
Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona
Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas
Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky
Rep. Tom McClintock of California
Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina
Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama
Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana
Rep. Chip Roy of Texas
Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin
https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/16/politics ... index.html
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Re: US Senate approved "Juneteenth" (June 19th) as a federal holiday by unanimous consent

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We expected some votes against it, as is true of many bills. But the fact that the list of no-voters can fit on a single screen, in a font size that's actually readable, is an encouraging sign about our nation. So, it means that nearly all House Republicans *also* voted *for* it, which is how I prefer to look at this. That's good.
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Re: US Senate approved "Juneteenth" (June 19th) as a federal holiday by unanimous consent

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CowboyT wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:25 pm We expected some votes against it, as is true of many bills. But the fact that the list of no-voters can fit on a single screen, in a font size that's actually readable, is an encouraging sign about our nation. So, it means that nearly all House Republicans *also* voted *for* it, which is how I prefer to look at this. That's good.
I agree CT, unanimous consent in the Senate and the vast majority of House members across the isle voting for it is very positive. We have to celebrate wins.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Re: US Senate approved "Juneteenth" (June 19th) as a federal holiday by unanimous consent

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highdesert wrote: Sun Jun 20, 2021 9:57 am
CowboyT wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:25 pm We expected some votes against it, as is true of many bills. But the fact that the list of no-voters can fit on a single screen, in a font size that's actually readable, is an encouraging sign about our nation. So, it means that nearly all House Republicans *also* voted *for* it, which is how I prefer to look at this. That's good.
I agree CT, unanimous consent in the Senate and the vast majority of House members across the isle voting for it is very positive. We have to celebrate wins.
It is a win, because the majority of semi-sane Repugs were scared shitless to vote against it. No Repugs can be consider sane, because if they were they wouldn't be Repugs.
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.-Huxley
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." ~ Louis Brandeis,

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