Austin News

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) commemorated Juneteenth on the Senate floor, highlighting its significance in American history. Juneteenth marks the day when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom, more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

Senator Cornyn has introduced a resolution honoring Juneteenth annually since 2011, and this year he did so again with support from 43 Senate colleagues. In 2021, Cornyn and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) successfully passed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

"Mr. President, one of the most defining days for our country, throughout our nation’s history, was when President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, freeing all slaves," stated Cornyn.

He noted that it took until June 19, 1865—now known as Juneteenth—for Major General Gordon Granger and Union troops to arrive in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved people of their freedom.

"In 1979, Texas was the first of what would become many states to proclaim the day Juneteenth as an official state holiday," he added.

Cornyn recalled attending numerous Juneteenth celebrations over the years. He particularly remembered the celebration in Galveston in 2021 as significant because it occurred just two days after his bill with Congresswoman Jackson Lee was signed into law establishing Juneteenth as a national holiday.

"I’d be remiss if I didn’t recognize the most tenacious advocate for the Juneteenth holiday, my friend Ms. Opal Lee, who is known as the ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth,’" he said.

Cornyn praised Ms. Opal Lee's dedication to continuing her advocacy at age 97 by walking two-and-a-half miles each year to emphasize ongoing efforts toward achieving a more perfect union.

"By making Juneteenth a national holiday," Cornyn concluded, "we have ensured that the history and significance of this day will not be relegated to footnotes in a history book. Instead, it will preserve the history of Juneteenth for generations to come and serve as a reminder of the hard-fought struggle for freedom and reconciliation."

He expressed gratitude for those who contributed to making Juneteenth National Independence Day possible and wished everyone a happy Juneteenth.