HOUSTON – The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced Tuesday.
Juneteenth is already a state holiday in Texas, 46 other states and the District of Columbia.
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“The freedom of all Americans that Texas celebrates every Juneteenth should be celebrated all across the nation,” Cornyn said. “The passage of this bill represents a big step in our nation’s journey toward equality. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for their support, and my fellow Texans who have been celebrating this important holiday for more than a century.”
READ: The history behind Juneteenth you might not have known
Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees, and has been the lead author of the bill. The bill is also co-sponsored by 53 Senators, Republicans and Democrats.
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