Juneteenth: Fact Sheet
Updated June 7, 2021
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R44865

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Juneteenth: Fact Sheet

Introduction
Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It is also known as Emancipation
Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, and Black Independence Day. On
June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the end
of the Civil War and the end of slavery. Although the Emancipation Proclamation came 2½ years
earlier on January 1, 1863, many slave owners continued to hold their enslaved people captive
after the announcement, so Juneteenth became a symbolic date representing African-American
freedom.
This fact sheet assists congressional offices with work related to Juneteenth. It contains sample
speeches and remarks from the Congressional Record, presidential proclamations and remarks,
and selected historical and cultural resources.
History
June 19, 1865, marks the date that Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas,
and announced the end of both the Civil War and slavery. His announcement, General Order
Number 3 reads:
The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the
Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of
personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves and the
connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and hired
labor. The Freedmen are advised to remain at their present homes and work for wages.
They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts; and they wil
not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.
The 1865 date is largely symbolic. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham
Lincoln, had legal y freed slaves in Texas on January 1, 1863, almost 2½ years earlier. Even after
the general order, some slave masters withheld the information from their enslaved people,
holding them enslaved through one more harvest season.
Texans celebrated Juneteenth beginning in 1866 with community-centric events, such as parades,
cookouts, prayer gatherings, historical and cultural readings, and musical performances. Over
time, communities have developed their own traditions. Some communities purchased land for
Juneteenth celebrations, such as Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas. As families emigrated
from Texas to other parts of the United States, they carried Juneteenth celebrations with them.
On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth official y became a Texas state holiday. Al Edwards, a freshman
state representative, put forward the bil , H.B. 1016, making Texas the first state to grant this
emancipation celebration. Since then, 48 other states and the District of Columbia have also
commemorated or recognized the day.
Legislation
Although Juneteenth is not a federal holiday, 48 states and the District of Columbia have passed
legislation recognizing it as a holiday or observance. Hawai ’s 31st legislature passed S.B. 939
H.D.2 C.D.1 on April 29, 2021, to observe Juneteenth. As of this writing, the bil has not been
signed by the governor. In Texas, New York, Virginia, and Washington, Juneteenth is an official
paid holiday for state employees.
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Juneteenth: Fact Sheet

Table 1. States That Commemorate or Observe Juneteenth
State
Year of Recognition
Citation
Alabama
2011
2011 Ala. Adv. Legis. Serv. 398 (LexisNexis)
Alaska
2001
Alaska Stat. §44.12.090 (2001)
Arizona
2016
Ariz. Rev. Stat. §1-315 (LexisNexis 2016)
Arkansas
2005
Ark. Code Ann. §1-5-114 (2005)
California
2003
Cal. Gov’t Code §6719 (Deering 2003)
Colorado
2004
H.J.Res. 04-1027, 64th Gen. Assemb., 2nd Reg.
Sess. (Co. 2004)
Connecticut
2003
Conn. Gen. Stat. §10-29a(a)(48) (2003)
Delaware
2000
Del. Code Ann. tit. 1, §604 (2000)
District of Columbia
2003
Res. 160, 15th Counsel, 2003 D.C.
Florida
1991
Fla. Stat. §683.21(1991)
Georgia
2011
S.Res. 164, 151st Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess (Ga. 1991)
Idaho
2001
S.Con.Res. 101, 56th Leg., Reg. Sess. (Idaho
2001)
Il inois
2003
5 Ill. Comp. Stat. 490/63 (2003)a
Indiana
2010
H.Con.Res. 38, 116th Gen. Assemb., 2d Reg. Sess.
(Ind. 2010)
Iowa
2002
Iowa Code §1C.14 (2002)
Kansas
2007
S.Res. 1860, 82nd Leg., Reg. Sess. (Kan. 2007)
Kentucky
2005
Ky. Rev. Stat. §2.147 (LexisNexis 2005)
Louisiana
2003
La. Stat. Ann. §1:58:2 (2003)
Maine
2011
Me. Stat. tit. 1, §150-H (2011)
Maryland
2014
Md. Code Ann., Gen. Prov. §7-411 (LexisNexis
2014)
Massachusetts
2007
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, §15BBBBB (2007)b
Michigan
2005
Mich. Comp. Laws §435.361 (2005)
Minnesota
1996
Minn. Stat. §10.55 (1996)
Mississippi
2010
S.Con.Res. 605, 2010 Leg., Reg. Sess. (Miss. 2010)
Missouri
2003
Mo. Rev. Stat. §9.161 (2003)
Montana
2017
Mont. Code Ann. §1-1-231 (2017)
Nebraska
2009
Leg.Res. 75, 101st Leg., Reg. Sess. (Neb. 2009)
Nevada
2011
Nev. Rev. Stat. §236.033 (2011)
New Hampshire
2019
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §14:13-z (LexisNexis
2019)
New Jersey
2004
N.J. Rev. Stat. §36:2-80 (2004)c
New Mexico
2006
N.M. Stat. Ann. §12-5-14 (2006)
New York
2004
N.Y. Exec. Law §168-a(3) (LexisNexis 2004)d
North Carolina
2007
2007 N.C. Sess. Laws 450
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Juneteenth: Fact Sheet

State
Year of Recognition
Citation
North Dakota
2021
S.B. 2232, 67th Leg. Assemb., Reg. Sess (2021)
Ohio
2006
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §5.2234 (LexisNexis
2006)
Oklahoma
1994
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, §82.4 (1994)
Oregon
2001
S.J.Res. 31, 71st Leg. Assemb. (Or. 2001)e
Pennsylvania
2019
2019 Pa. ALS 9
Rhode Island
2012
S.B. 2262, 2011-2012 Leg. Sess. (R.I. 2011)f
South Carolina
2008
S.C. Code Ann. §53-3-85 (2008)
Tennessee
2007
2007 Bil Text TN H.J.R. 170
Texas
1980
Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. §662.003 (LexisNexis
1999)g
Utah
2016
Utah Code Ann. §63G-1-401(1)(g) (LexisNexis
2016)
Vermont
2007
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 1, §375 (2007)
Virginia
2007
H.Res. 56, 2007 Sess. (Va. 2007)h
Washington
2007
Wash. Rev. Code §1.16.050(7)(l) (2007)i
West Virginia
2008
H.Res. 19, 78th Leg., 2d Sess. (W. Va. 2008)
Wisconsin
2009
Wis. Stat. §995.20 (2009)
Wyoming
2003
Wyo. Stat. Ann. §8-4-107 (2003)
Source: Table compiled by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Notes: This table includes the first instance of a state’s recognition of Juneteenth or the first legislation that
established Juneteenth as a state holiday. It excludes legislation adopted by states after the initial observation
year. For example, Kansas adopted multiple resolutions, such as S. Res. 1866 (2007), S. Res. 1888 (2009), S. Res.
1865 (2011), and S. Res. 1754 (2015), subsequent to the original commemoration.
Bolded legislation citations denote that the legislation established Juneteenth as a state holiday. This includes days
of observance and does not necessarily mean that they are legal holidays. Non-bolded legislation citations are
commemorations or recognitions of the day’s significance.
States without links do not have publicly available versions of the bil or resolution online. Copies can be found
on Lexis Advanced. Congressional clients also may request copies from CRS.
a. Il inois legislature passed S. B. 1965, 102nd Reg. Sess. (Il . 2021) on May 27, 2021, designating Juneteenth as a
paid state holiday. As of this writing, the bil has not been signed into law.
b. See also H. 4802, amend. 81, 192nd Gen. Court (Mass. 2020) designating Juneteenth as a permanent state
holiday.
c. See also S.19, 219th Leg. (N.J. 2020) permanently recognizing the third Friday in June as a state holiday.
d. See also S. 8598/A. 10628, 2019-2020 Leg. Sess. (N.Y. 2020) recognizing June 19, 2020, as an official public
holiday.
e. Oregon’s legislature passed H.B. 2168, 2021 Reg. Sess. (Ore. 2021) on June 2, 2021, to establish Juneteenth
as a legal state holiday. As of this writing, the bil has not been signed into law.
f.
See also S. B. 169, 2013-2014 Leg. Sess. (R.I. 2013) establishing the recognition of Juneteenth annual y.
g. See also H.B. 1016, 66th Reg. Sess. (Tex. 1980).
h. See also H. J. Res. 5074A, 2006 Spec. Sess. (Va. 2006) commending celebrations and 2020 Bil Text VA E.O.
25 establishing Juneteenth as a permanent state holiday.
i.
See also H.B. 1016, 2021 Reg. Sess. (Wash. 2021) establishing Juneteenth as a paid holiday for state
employees.
The Senate has passed annual resolutions recognizing June 19 as Juneteenth Independence Day:
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Juneteenth: Fact Sheet

S.Res. 253 (116th Congress)
S.Res. 547 (115th Congress)
S.Res. 214 (115th Congress)
S.Res. 500 (114th Congress)
The House of Representatives has introduced similar resolutions:
H.Res. 1001 (116th Congress)
H.Res. 450 (116th Congress)
H.Res. 948 (115th Congress)
H.Res. 386 (115th Congress)
H.Res. 787 (114th Congress)
Sample Congressional Speeches and Recognitions
Members of Congress often make floor statements, issue press releases, or enter Extensions of
Remarks into the Congressional Record to recognize federal holidays and observances. The
following are some recent examples that may be of assistance in preparing such statements:
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, “The 2020 Observance of the Historical Significance of
Juneteenth Independence Day,” Extension of Remarks, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol.
166 (June 30, 2020), p. E590-E591.
Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, “Juneteenth,” remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record, daily
edition, vol. 166 (June 18, 2020), pp. S3098-S3099.
Representative Antonio Delgado, “Recognizing Juneteenth,” Extensions of Remarks,
Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 165 (June 19, 2019), p. E769.
Senators Bil Nelson and Cory Booker, “Juneteenth Independence Day,” remarks in the Senate,
Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 164 (June 19, 2018), pS4032-S4033.
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, “Commemorating Juneteenth,” remarks in the House of
Representatives, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 162 (June 19, 2018), pp. H5274-
H5275.
Representative Brian Babin, “Celebrating Juneteenth 2017,” Extensions of Remarks,
Congressional Record, daily edition vol. 163 (June 15, 2017), p. E828.
Senator Harry Reid, “Celebrating Juneteenth,” remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record,
daily edition, vol. 162 (June 16, 2016), p. S4258.
Representative Jeb Hensarling, “Hensarling Commemorates Juneteenth,” press release, June 19,
2015.
Representative Julia Brownley, “Recognizing Ventura County’s 24th Annual Juneteenth
Celebration,” Extensions of Remarks, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 160 (June 19,
2014), p. E1023.
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Juneteenth: Fact Sheet

Presidential Proclamations and Remarks
One of the many uses of a presidential proclamation is to ceremoniously honor a group or cal
attention to certain issues or events. Some proclamations and remarks commemorating Juneteenth
from the Compilation of Presidential Documents include the following:
Statements and Messages by the President—Donald J. Trump (2018- 2021)
Statements by the President—Barack H. Obama (2010-2017)
Messages from the President—George W. Bush (2002-2009)
Addresses and Remarks—Wil iam J. Clinton (1994-2001)
Historical and Cultural Resources
Numerous resources provide information on the history and culture of the holiday. Some of these
include the following:
National Museum of African American History & Culture, “The Historical Legacy of
Juneteenth.” This blog post provides a brief history of Juneteenth.
Smithsonian, “Juneteenth: Our Other Independence Day.” This blog post includes pictures of
Major General George Granger and the house from which he read General Order No 3.
Library of Congress, “Juneteenth.” This blog post includes links to several interviews with former
enslaved about their memories of gaining their freedom.
Library of Congress, “Voices Remembering Slavery: Freed People Tel Their Stories.” This
collection houses oral histories of 23 formerly enslaved recorded between 1932 and 1975.
Texas State Historical Association, “Juneteenth.” A longer narrative of the history of Juneteenth.
National Archives and Records Administration, “National Archives Safeguards Original
‘Juneteenth’ General Order.” Short blog post that includes an image of handwritten General Order
No. 3.
National Archives and Records Administration, “The Emancipation Proclamation.” The original,
handwritten document.
New York Times, “How we Juneteenth.” An interactive collection of historical photos, poetry,
articles celebrating Juneteenth.
New York Times, “Hot Links and Red Drinks: The Rich Food Tradition of Juneteenth.”
Related CRS Report
CRS Report R43539, Commemorations in Congress: Options for Honoring Individuals, Groups,
and Events, coordinated by Jacob R. Straus
Acknowledgements
This fact sheet was originally authored by Molly Higgins, former Reference and Data Services Librarian.
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Juneteenth: Fact Sheet


Author Information

Erin M. Smith

Reference and Instruction Librarian




Disclaimer
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