The U.S. Congress passed a bill that will make "Juneteenth" an official federal holiday instead of being celebrated only in several states in America. The Congress, composed of the U.S. Senate and House, passed the said bill, which is now on its way to the president's office.

If signed by the president, Juneteenth will become the 11th federal holiday and the first new one since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was passed in 1983.

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"Juneteenth" Bill on Its way to the President's Office

The bill passed by Congress was made possible when the House voted 415-14 in making Juneteenth or June 19 a federal holiday, according to a New York Post report. The voting on the House happened on Wednesday, June 16. Meanwhile, the Senate unanimously passed the bill a day earlier the House held their voting.

"Our federal holidays are purposefully few in numbers and recognize the most important milestone," said New York Representative Carolyn Maloney. The representative also pointed out that she cannot think of a more important milestone to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

Associated Press reported that the vast majority of states in the U.S. recognize Juneteenth as a holiday or an official observance when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free. Under the legislation, the federal holiday will be known as "Juneteenth National Independence Day."

"It [Juneteenth] also reminds of what we don't have today," said Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman from New Jersey, pointing out the full access to justice, freedom, and equality. "All these are often in short supply as it relates to the Black community," said Coleman.

Despite the victory acquired in the Congress, the bill still faced opposition from 14 GOP members in the House, such as Representative Andy Biggs from Arizona, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, and Tom McLintock of California.

"Since I believe in treating everyone equally, regardless of race, and that we should be focused on what unites us rather than our difference, I will vote no," said Republican Representative Matt Rosendale.

Representative Higgins also expressed his disappointment regarding the bill's name that included "Independence" instead of "Emancipation."

However, Representative Brenda Lawrence from Michigan argued that "independence from being enslaved in a country is different from a country getting independence to rule themselves." Lawrence reiterated their responsibility to teach the "generation of Black and White Americans the pride of people who have survived" and succeeded in the U.S. despite slavery.

"Juneteenth" Celebration Across U.S.

Despite eyeing to become an official federal holiday, Juneteenth was already commemorated in the 48 states of the U.S., as well as in Washington D.C. Major General Gordon Granger announced in 1865 that former President Abraham Lincoln freed the enslaved people. Texas was the last Confederate state that enacted the proclamation.

On April 27, the state of Hawaii passed the measure, but details of whether their governor has signed the bill into law were not yet available. Meanwhile, South Dakota has not yet recognized Juneteenth as a holiday in their state.

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