WASHINGTON — Legislation to recognize June 19, or "Juneteenth," as a federal holiday passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives Wednesday. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 475, the "Juneteenth National Independence Day Act", passed with 415-14 votes. The bill recognizes June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned slavery was ended, as a public holiday. President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation had freed all enslaved African Americans in rebel states two and a half years earlier.
The bill now heads to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law.
The 14 no votes were all from Republican members of Congress. They include:
Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala.
Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.
Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn.
Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas
Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz.
Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif.
Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont.
Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.
Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga.
Several of those representatives shared why they were voting against the bill.
Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, told USA TODAY he thinks there are enough federal holidays.
"We have enough federal holidays right now. I just don't see the reason in doing it," he said. "I don't think it rises to the level I'm going to support it."
Republican Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale released a statement on his vote against S.B. 475.
“Let’s call an ace an ace. This is an effort by the Left to create a day out of whole cloth to celebrate identity politics as part of its larger efforts to make Critical Race Theory the reigning ideology of our country. Since I believe in treating everyone equally, regardless of race, and that we should be focused on what unites us rather than our differences, I will vote no,” Rosendale said.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., argued that referring to Juneteenth as a national independence day would confuse people.
"I fully support creating a day to celebrate the abolition of slavery, a dark portion of our nation's history. However, naming this day 'national independence day' will create confusion and push Americans to pick one of those two days as their independence day based on their racial identity," Massie said on the House floor. "Why can't we name this 'emancipation day' and come together as Americans and celebrate that day together as Americans?"
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, also objected to the name of the bill.
"Juneteenth should be commemorated as the expression of the realization of the end of slavery in the United States - and I commend those who worked for its passage," Roy said in a statement.
"I could not vote for this bill, however, because the holiday should not be called 'Juneteenth National Independence Day' but rather, 'Juneteenth National Emancipation [or Freedom or otherwise] Day.' This name needlessly divides our nation on a matter that should instead bring us together by creating a separate Independence Day based on the color of one’s skin," he said.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Rep. Andrew Clyde, the only member of the Georgia delegation to vote no, declined to answer a reporter's question about his vote.
Contributing: Savannah Behrmann
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who are the 14 House Republicans who voted no on a Juneteenth holiday?
"They (intend to) deceive God and those who believe, while they deceive not but themselves!" "As The Clock Turns" http://astheclockturns.blogspot.com/
"JUNTEENTH!" “Africans were enslaved and brought here to America in Chains! They’ve had their culture, Language, and lives ripped from them when they were snatched from their homes – they are the only group of people who were forced to come here…they did not come voluntarily to America. It was built on Free Slave Labor!” “Across The Way” http://takealookacrosstheway.blogspot.com/
“Will You Be My Angel?” "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people!" One has to wonder…which are the good angels and which are the lying wonders? The false prophets that we were warned of... Idolatry of money and selfishness come with a price. "Amongst Us" http://messagetospirit.blogspot.com/
A woman who pleaded guilty to involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection told a judge she had since watched the Holocaust film 'Schindler's List' for education https://www.yahoo.com/news/woman-pleaded-g...
The media really doesn't care about this. I know the CBC was on a little while ago, they were singing the CBC anthem or something as part of a press conference it looked like maybe. MSNBC showed it but didn't listen in, instead Geoff Bennet talked over/above/about it. I started switching channels, looked on the computer and haven't been able to find it. They would rather talk about Rebublicans who voted no. Maybe I'll be able to find it later.
This blog topic is not about The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, can you talk to the subject, Steve? 14 House Republicans Voted Against "Junteenth," Our National Holiday!
Thank You Brother Doctor Gregory Boulware, Esq. I believe this blog has information that is worthy to learn more about and I for one will have your back by sharing this information with more of our people, Thank You again.
I see that you got it, now stay on topic. Just look at these 14 no votes were all from Republican members of Congress who did not want to see this day coming, just look at them.
What does it matter Ron? We have another unnecessary federal holiday, be happy. Personally, I'm interested in the Congressional Black Caucus event I got a glimpse of but no more.
Wow, Steve, for me learning about your family history is the basic foundation to our here and now, so we as a people can look towards building a better future.
This is LOVE which that's something you know so little of. WOW!!!
Robert, please don’t Speak for Steve, let Steve talk.
Wow, Steve, for me learning about our family history is the basic foundation to our here and now, so we as a people can look towards building a better future.
This can be done through using the power of LOVE. Steve don’t you know the power of love makes the world go round?
YOUR WORDS: members of Congress do not know...I do not know!
Have you clicked on those links yet? Robert, there is more to understanding this topic. You have some work to do.
...There are many who feel that the ill-timed recognition of "Our Free Ill-Gotten Contributions" to these United States (and the World for that matter) are a non-matter ("Another Unnecessary Federal Holiday"). What would this country have been if not for the role of Africans - Chained/Enslaved or not? Would there have been a United States of America? Named after 'Amerigo Vespucci,' Stolen from the Indigenous Peoples of the Land, Colonized by Europeans who had next to nothing...hell-bent on the destruction of another in order to gain; would there have been an America where hooded criminals could terrorize and demonize Black Folk (the very ones who have made it possible for white people to prosper after the elimination of its previous and rightful tenants); would there have been an America where so-called privileged individuals could speak there minds without fear of being jailed for speaking out - a so-called person who believes that his non-pigmentation allows one the freedom and welcome expression from others to accept racist views and expect acceptance no matter if the words and thought processes are insulting and unwelcomed, as do nazis, skin-heads, maga-people, and of course insurrectionists...would there have been an America without slavery...could there have been an America without forced slavery...would there have been an America if Everyone who has arrived here were here simply because they wanted to be and were welcomed by the inhabitants of the land...where everyone were truly equal and willing to live with one another with a worthiness and same risks involved? I wonder, do you?
When one has the privilege and a perceived higher value over others, they tend to do and think as legends in their own minds...one should feel welcomed, one should also realize when they are not as blessed as they think they are and be appreciative of other contributors from across this globe...maybe if we had another one to screw-up this one would be of lesser value as well.
One should be mindful of the company kept, respect is only reciprocated once received.
Apologies for misspelling "There" as opposed to "Their!" The heat of the moment was attributed to that faux pas. I was not only attempting a thought process, I was also attempting to control my anger as well; regarding one of the comments therein.
