IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 569 

Recognizing former Texas State Representative Al Edwards as the father 

of Juneteenth and showing appreciation for successfully passing Texas 

House Bill 1016, making Texas the first State to recognize Juneteenth 

(June 19) as an official State holiday. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 30, 2023 

Mr. GREEN of Texas (for himself, Ms. WATERS, and Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Accountability 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing former Texas State Representative Al Edwards 

as the father of Juneteenth and showing appreciation 

for successfully passing Texas House Bill 1016, making 

Texas the first State to recognize Juneteenth (June 19) 

as an official State holiday. 

Whereas Al Edwards was the first legislator to pass legislation making Juneteenth (June 19) a State holiday; 

Whereas Albert Ely ‘‘Al’’ Edwards was a civil rights activist 

and former Texas house member of the Texas Legislature, serving in the legislature from 1978 to 2007 and 

then from 2009 to 2011; 


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•HRES 569 IH 

Whereas Al Edwards was born on March 19, 1937, as the 

sixth child of Rev. E.L. Edwards, Sr., and Josephine 

Radford Edwards; 

Whereas Al Edwards dedicated his career to championing 

human rights causes, such as making Americans aware 

of the significance of June 19, 1865, later known as 

Juneteenth; 

Whereas, while serving in the Texas Legislature, Al Edwards 

served as the Texas State Director for Reverend Jesse 

Jackson’s Presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988; 

Whereas Al Edwards also founded ‘‘Operation Justus’’, a 

community-based organization that served as a referral 

service for persons with social problems and concerns; 

Whereas, in 1987, he was arrested and went to jail for peacefully protesting the apartheid regime in South Africa; 

Whereas, throughout his tenure in the State legislature, Al 

Edwards served as the Chairman of the Rules and Resolutions Committee, Chairman of Budget and Oversight of 

the Ways and Means Committee, and a member of the 

Appropriations Committee; 

Whereas he was elected the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee’s Black Caucus and held that position 

for 6 years; 

Whereas, in 1999, the Honorable Al Edwards was appointed 

Chairman of the Texas Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural and Historical Commission by then-Governor 

George W. Bush; 

Whereas Al Edwards is also referred to as ‘‘Mr. Juneteenth’’ 

because of his tireless commitment to the establishment 

of Juneteenth as a State holiday in Texas through Texas 

House Bill 1016; 


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•HRES 569 IH 

Whereas Al Edwards advocated for Juneteenth’s recognition 

nationwide through work with State legislatures over his 

decades-long career; 

Whereas ultimately Al Edwards was successful in creating a 

holiday which recognizes the day enslaved individuals in 

Texas were notified of their newfound freedom; 

Whereas today Juneteenth is recognized as a Federal holiday 

and is celebrated by millions nationwide; and 

Whereas, because Al Edwards laid the foundation for 

Juneteenth becoming a Federal holiday, we resolve to 

recognize him as the father of Juneteenth: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, 

2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

3 This resolution may be cited as ‘‘The Original Reso4 lution Recognizing Al Edwards as the Father of 

5 Juneteenth’’. 

6 SEC. 2. RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION. 

7 The House of Representatives recognizes former 

8 Texas State Representative Al Edwards as the father of 

9 Juneteenth and shows appreciation for his extraordinary 

10 work to garner recognition for the day. 

Æ 


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