Juneteenth: Fact Sheet

Juneteenth: Fact Sheet
June 13, 2024
Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It is also known as
Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, Black
Devon Galena
Independence Day, and, by statute, Juneteenth National Independence Day.
Senior Knowledge
Management Librarian
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 enslavers continued to

hold enslaved Black people captive after the announcement. Juneteenth became a
symbolic date representing African-American freedom.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021. All 50 states and the District of Columbia recognize
Juneteenth as a holiday or observance, and at least 28 states and the District of Columbia have designated
Juneteenth as a permanent paid and/or legal holiday through legislation or executive action.
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.


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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, Black Independence Day, and, by
statute, Juneteenth National 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 enslavers continued to hold enslaved Black 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.
Background
June 19, 1865, marks the date that Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and
announced the end of both the Civil War and slavery.1 His announcement, General Order Number
3, reads as follows:
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 will
not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.2
The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln, had legally freed the
enslaved in Texas on January 1, 1863, almost 2½ years earlier.3 Even after the general order, some
enslavers withheld the information from enslaved people, holding them enslaved through one
more harvest season.4
Texans celebrated Juneteenth beginning in 1866 with community-centric events, such as parades,
cookouts, prayer gatherings, historical and cultural readings, and musical performances.
Juneteenth celebrations often included speeches to inspire and educate attendees about political
action, like voting.5 Over time, communities have developed their own traditions.6 Some
communities purchased land for Juneteenth celebrations, such as Emancipation Park in Houston,

1 Teresa Palomo Acosta, “Juneteenth,” Handbook of Texas, Texas State Historical Society, March 26, 2024.
Available at https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/juneteenth.
2 Billy R. Glasco, Jr., “Juneteenth: The Celebration of a New Freedom in America,” Rediscovering Black History
(blog), National Archives, June 16, 2021. Available at https://rediscovering-black-history.blogs.archives.gov/2021/06/
16/juneteenth-the-celebration-of-a-new-freedom-in-america/.
3 Ibid.
4 Elizabeth Nix, “What is Juneteenth?,” History.com, June 11, 2024.
Available at https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth.
5 Teresa Palomo Acosta, “Juneteenth,” Handbook of Texas, Texas State Historical Society, March 26, 2024.
Available at https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/juneteenth.
6 Ibid.
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Juneteenth: Fact Sheet

Texas.7 As families emigrated from Texas to other parts of the United States, they carried
Juneteenth celebrations with them.8
On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth officially became a Texas state holiday.9 Al Edwards, a freshman
state representative, put forward the bill, H.B. 1016, making Texas the first state to grant this
emancipation celebration.10 Since then, the federal government, all 50 states, and the District of
Columbia have also commemorated or recognized the day.
Legislation
The first known official movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday began in 1994,11 and the
first congressional resolution recognizing Juneteenth Independence Day was introduced in the
105th Congress in 1997.12 The Senate and House of Representatives have since introduced these
resolutions recognizing Juneteenth annually.
Recent Senate resolutions:
S.Res. 269 (117th Congress)
S.Res. 253 (116th Congress)
S.Res. 547 (115th Congress)
S.Res. 214 (115th Congress)
S.Res. 500 (114th Congress)
Recent House of Representatives resolutions:
H.Res. 480 (117th Congress)
H.Res. 450 (116th Congress)
H.Res. 948 (115th Congress)
H.Res. 386 (115th Congress)
H.Res. 787 (114th Congress)

7 Ibid.
8 Ibid.
9 Ibid.
10 Paul DeBenedetto, “Former State Rep. Al Edwards, Who Helped Make Juneteenth A State Holiday, Dies At 83,”
Houston Public Media, April 30, 2020. Available at https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2020/04/
30/368361/former-state-rep-al-edwards-who-helped-make-juneteenth-a-state-holiday-dies-at-83/.
11 National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, “History of the Modern Juneteenth Movement.” Available
https://web.archive.org/web/20230323021301/https://pajuneteenth.org/national-juneteenth-observance-foundation-njof/
.
12 S.J.Res. 11.
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Federal Holiday Legislation
116th Congress
H.Res. 1001 to recognize June 19 as Juneteenth Independence Day was introduced on June 15,
2020.13 The resolution garnered 214 co-sponsors, and it led to the introduction of the first
Juneteenth National Independence Day Act (H.R. 7232) on June 18, 2020. A subsequent Senate
bill (S. 4019) was introduced on June 22, 2020. Neither bill was considered for a vote.
117th Congress
On February 25, 2021, H.R. 1320 and S. 475 were both introduced to establish Juneteenth as a
federal holiday. S. 475 passed the Senate by unanimous consent on June 15, 2021, and it passed
the House by a vote of 415-14 on June 16, 2021. The bill was signed into law on June 17, 2021,
and Juneteenth became the 12th federal holiday.14 Juneteenth National Independence Day is the
first holiday to be added to the list of federal holidays since the 1983 recognition of Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday.
State Legislation
In addition to the federal government recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, all states and
the District of Columbia have passed legislation recognizing it as a holiday or observance. These
states are listed in Table 1. At least 28 states along with the District of Columbia have designated
Juneteenth as a permanent paid and/or legal holiday through legislation or executive action. Some
states have made Juneteenth a paid holiday through a state statute that observes federal holidays
or other days designated by the President as state holidays or by specifically directing the
governor to make an annual proclamation. These states appear in Table 2. Other states have
issued annual proclamations, decrees, or commemorations that designate Juneteenth as a paid
holiday for a specific year.15 These states are not included in Table 2.
Table 1. States That Commemorate or Observe Juneteenth
Year of First
State
Observance
Citation
Alabama
2011
Al. SJR 157 (2011)
Alaska
2001
Alaska Stat. §44.12.090 (2001)
Arizona
2016
Ariz. Rev. Stat. §1-315 (2016)
Arkansas
2005
Ark. Code Ann. §1-5-114 (2005)
California
2003
Cal. Gov’t Code §6719 (Deering 2003)

13 House Rule XII, Clause 5 prohibits date-specific commemorative legislation, and the passage of H.Res. 1001
required waiving House Rule XII by unanimous consent.
14 P.L. 117-17, June 17, 2021; 5 U.S.C. §6103(a). See Table 2.
15 For example, see State of Alabama 2022 Official State Holidays noting the holiday upon designation by the governor
and Ala. Code §1-3-8 listing the state’s holidays; Michigan governor proclamation specific to June 19, 2022, and Mich.
Comp. Laws Serv. §435.101 listing state holidays; New Mexico State Personnel Board memorandum on state holidays
and N.M. Stat. Ann. §12-5-2 listing public holidays for the state; and West Virginia governor proclamation specific to
June 17, 2002, and W. Va. Stat. Ann. §2-2-1 listing legal holidays for the state.
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Year of First
State
Observance
Citation
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)
Hawaii
2021
Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. §8-32
Idaho
2001
S. Con. Res. 101, 56th Leg., Reg. Sess. (Idaho 2001)
Il inois
2003
5 Ill. Comp. Stat. 490/63 (2003)
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 (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 (2014)
Massachusetts
2007
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, §15BBBBB (2007)
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 (2019)
New Jersey
2004
N.J. Rev. Stat. §36:2-80 (2004)
New Mexico
2006
N.M. Stat. Ann. §12-5-14 (2006)
New York
2004
N.Y. Exec. Law §168-a(3) (2004)
North Carolina
2007
2007 N.C. Sess. Laws 450
North Dakota
2021
S.B. 2232, 67th Leg. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (N.D. 2021)
Ohioa
2006
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §5.2234 (2006)
Oklahoma
1994
Okla. Stat. tit. 25, §82.4 (1994)
Oregon
2001
S.J. Res. 31, 71st Leg. Assemb. (Or. 2001)
Pennsylvania
2019
2019 Pa. ALS 9
Rhode Island
2012
S.B. 2262, 2011-2012 Leg. Sess. (R.I. 2012)
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Year of First
State
Observance
Citation
South Carolina
2008
S.C. Code Ann. §53-3-85 (2008)
South Dakota
2022
S.D. Codified Law §1-5-1 (2022)
Tennessee
2007
2007 Bil Text TN H.J.R. 170
Texas
1980
Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. §662.003 (1980)
Utah
2016
Utah Code Ann. §63G-1-401(1)(g) (2016)
Vermont
2007
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 1, §375 (2007)
Virginia
2007
H.Res. 56, 2007 Sess. (Va. 2007)
Washington
2007
Wash. Rev. Code §1.16.050(1)(f) (2007)
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. Nonbolded legislation citations are
commemorations or recognitions of the day’s significance.
a. Ohio enacted a bil in 2006 to recognize September 22 as a state holiday called Emancipation Day. In 2021,
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §5.2447 became effective, designating June 19 as Juneteenth and making it a legal
holiday.
Table 2. States Where Juneteenth Is Observed as a Permanent Paid State and/or
Legal Holiday
State
Year Enacted
Citation
California
2022
Cal. Gov. Code §6700 (2022) eff. Sept. 29, 2022
Colorado
2022
Colo. Rev. Stat §24-11-101 (2022)
Connecticut
2022
Conn. Gen. Stat. §1-4a (2022) eff. Oct. 1, 2022
Delaware
2021
Del. Code Ann. tit. 1, §501 (2022)
District of Columbiaa
2021
D.C. Code §1-612.02(a) (2022)
Georgiab
2022
Ga. Code Ann. §1-4-1 (2022)
Idahob
2021
Idaho Code §73-108 (2022)
Il inois
2021
5 Il . Comp. Stat. 490/63 (2022)
Louisiana
2021
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §1:55.1 (2022)
Maine
2022
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, §59 (2022)
Maryland
2022
Md. Ann. Code Art. GP, §1-111 (2022)
Massachusettsc
2021
Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 6, §15BBBBB (2022)
Michigan
2023
Mich. Comp. Laws §435.381 (2023)
Minnesota
2023
Minn. Stat. §10.55 (2023)
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State
Year Enacted
Citation
Missouribd
2013
Mo. Rev. Stat. §9.015 (2013)
Nebraska
2022
Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. §62-301 (2022)
Nevadae
2023
Nev. Rev. Stat. §236.033 (2023)
New Jersey
2021
N.J. Stat. §11A:6-24.1 (2022)
New York
2021
N.Y. Gen. Constr. Law § 24 (Consol. 2022)
Ohio
2021
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §1.14 (2022)
Oregon
2021
Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. §187.010 (2021) eff. June 28, 2021
Pennsylvania
2019
Penn. P.L. 34, No.9 (2019)
Rhode Island
2023
R.I. Gen. Laws § 25-3-1 (2023)
South Dakota
2022
S.D. Codified Laws §1-5-1 (2022) eff. July 1, 2022
Tennessee
2023
Tenn. Stat. Ann. §15-1-101 eff. May 5, 2023
Texas
1980
Tex. Gov’t Code §662.003 (2022)
Utah
2022
Utah Code Ann. §63G-1-301 (2022)
Vermont
2024
2024 Vt. S. 206 (2024)
Virginia
2020
Va. Code Ann. §2.2-3300 (2022)
Washington
2022
Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §1.16.050 (2022)
Source: Table compiled by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Notes: This list represents states where Juneteenth has been designated as a permanent paid state and/or legal
holiday by state legislation or executive action. It does not include paid state holidays issued annually by
proclamations, decrees, or commemorations. New Mexico is not included in this list. Although New Mexico’s
state personnel board unanimously voted to add Juneteenth to the list of 2022 paid state holidays (NM SPO
General Memorandum 2021-004), Juneteenth is not a legal holiday in New Mexico (N.M. Stat. Ann. §12-5-2).
a. See the Technical Amendments Act of 2022, where Juneteenth National Independence Day has been added
to the list of legal holidays.
b. Juneteenth was first observed as a paid state holiday through a state statute that recognizes federal holidays
or other days designated by the President.
c. The Massachusetts statute states, “The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart the
nineteenth of June as Juneteenth Independence Day.…”
d. The Missouri legislature also passed a bil (H.B. 1738, 101st Gen. Assemb, 2nd Reg. Sess.) that made
Juneteenth the 13th legal holiday in the state. Mo. Rev. Stat. §9.010 went into effect on August 28, 2022.
e. The Nevada statute states, “The Governor shall annually proclaim June 19 to be ‘Juneteenth Day’. . ”
Selected Congressional Statements and Remarks
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 Al Green, “Recognizing Juneteenth and Slavery Remembrance Day,” remarks in
the House, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 169 (June 23, 2023), pp. H3137-H3140.
Representative Aumua Amata, “Amata Celebrates Juneteenth’s Message of Freedom” (June 15,
2023). Retrieved from the official website of Representative Amata.
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Senator Martin Heinrich, “Heinrich Statement on Juneteenth 2023” (June 15, 2023). Retrieved
from the official YouTube channel of Senator Heinrich.
Representative Barry Loudermilk, “Honoring Juneteenth as a National Holiday,” Extensions of
Remarks, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 168 (June 14, 2022), p. E617.
Representative Ayanna Pressley, “Celebrating Juneteenth,” Congressional Record, daily edition,
vol. 168 (June 15, 2022), p. H5593.
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, “Celebrating Juneteenth,” remarks in the House,
Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 167 (June 14, 2021), pp. H2728-H2736.
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), pp. 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 Bill Nelson and Cory Booker, “Juneteenth Independence Day,” remarks in the Senate,
Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 164 (June 19, 2018), pp. S4032-S4033.
Selected Presidential Proclamations and Remarks
One of the many uses of a presidential proclamation is to ceremoniously honor a group or call
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—Joseph R. Biden Jr. (2021- )
Statements and Messages by the President—Donald J. Trump (2017-2020)
Statements and Messages by the President—Barack H. Obama (2009-2016)
Statements and Messages by the President—George W. Bush (2002-2008)
Government Resources
Numerous resources provide information on the history and culture of the holiday, including 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, “The Birth of Juneteenth; Voices of the Enslaved.” This blog post includes
links to several interviews with formerly enslaved people about their memories of gaining their
freedom.
Library of Congress, “Voices Remembering Slavery: Freed People Tell Their Stories.” This
collection houses oral histories of 23 formerly enslaved people recorded between 1932 and 1975.
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National Archives and Records Administration, “National Archives Safeguards Original
‘Juneteenth’ General Order.” A 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.
Nongovernment Resources
Texas State Historical Association, “Juneteenth.” A longer narrative of the history of Juneteenth.
Washington Post, “What is Juneteenth? Emancipation history with photos.” An interactive news
story highlighting the history of Juneteenth.
New York Times, “So You Want to Learn About Juneteenth?” A primer on celebrating Juneteenth.
New York Times, “Hot Links and Red Drinks: The Rich Food Tradition of Juneteenth.”
Related CRS Product
CRS Report R43539, Commemorations in Congress: Options for Honoring Individuals, Groups,
and Events, coordinated by Jacob R. Straus.

Author Information

Devon Galena

Senior Knowledge Management Librarian


Acknowledgments
This fact sheet was originally authored by Molly Higgins, former CRS Reference and Digital Services
Librarian. This fact sheet was previously updated by Erin Smith, former CRS Reference and Instruction
Librarian.
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