IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 480 
Recognizing June 19, 2021, as this year’s observance of the historical 
significance of Juneteenth Independence Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 16, 2021 
Ms. JACKSON LEE (for herself, Mr. AGUILAR, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mrs. 
CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. 
MFUME, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. MORELLE, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Ms. 
SEWELL, Mr. EVANS, Mr. HORSFORD, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. DA-
VIDS of Kansas, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. 
CROW, Mr. LAMB, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. OMAR, Ms. TLAIB, Ms. 
TITUS, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. BROWN, Mrs. DEMINGS, Ms. LEE 
of California, Mr. MALINOWSKI, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. KEATING, Mr. 
TORRES of New York, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Ms. DEAN, Mr. LAWSON 
of Florida, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. PALLONE, Miss RICE of New York, Mr. 
SCHNEIDER, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. TAKANO, 
Mr. NEGUSE, Ms. BASS, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. CA´RDENAS, 
Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. 
STRICKLAND, Mrs. KIRKPATRICK, Ms. STEVENS, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. 
MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. AUCHINCLOSS, 
Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, Mr. RUIZ, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. SAR-
BANES, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. ALLRED, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. 
BLUNT
ROCHESTER, Ms. GARCIA
of Texas, Ms. HOULAHAN, Mr. 
BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mrs. TRAHAN, Mr. VEASEY, Mr. 
COURTNEY, Mr. RUSH, Mr. SOTO, Mrs. TORRES of California, Mr. 
PAYNE, Ms. BUSH, Ms. KAPTUR, Mrs. MCBATH, Ms. MANNING, Mrs. 
BUSTOS, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. CLEAVER, Mrs. HAYES, Mr. VELA, Ms. CHU, 
Ms. CRAIG, Mr. JONES, Mr. HIMES, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mrs. 
BEATTY, Mrs. FLETCHER, Ms. WATERS, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. THOMPSON 
of Mississippi, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. WELCH, Mr. KILMER, Ms. ADAMS, 
Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. PINGREE, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. COOPER, Mr. LAN-
GEVIN, Ms. PRESSLEY, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Ms. NORTON, 
Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. JACOBS of California, 
Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. GRIJALVA, 
Mr. CARSON, Ms. ROSS, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. TRONE, Mr. BACON, Mr. 
MCEACHIN, Mrs. LAWRENCE, Mr. DESAULNIER, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. 
ESHOO, Mr. PHILLIPS, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. 
THOMPSON of California, Ms. MATSUI, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. KELLY of 
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•HRES 480 IH 
Illinois, and Ms. JAYAPAL) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing June 19, 2021, as this year’s observance of 
the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day. 
Whereas news of the end of slavery did not reach frontier 
areas of the United States, and in particular the South-
western States, for more than 21⁄2 years after President 
Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued 
on January 1, 1863, and months after the conclusion of 
the Civil War; 
Whereas, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers led by Major 
General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, 
with news that the Civil War had ended and that the 
enslaved were free; 
Whereas African Americans who had been slaves in the 
Southwest celebrated June 19th, commonly known as 
‘‘Juneteenth Independence Day’’, as the anniversary of 
their emancipation; 
Whereas African Americans from the Southwest continue the 
tradition of celebrating Juneteenth Independence Day as 
inspiration and encouragement for future generations; 
Whereas, for more than 150 years, Juneteenth Independence 
Day celebrations have been held to honor African-Amer-
ican freedom while encouraging self-development and re-
spect for all cultures; and 
Whereas the faith and strength of character demonstrated by 
former slaves remains an example for all people of the 
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•HRES 480 IH 
United States, regardless of background, religion, or 
race: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That— 
(1) the House of Representatives— 
(A) recognizes the historical significance of 
Juneteenth Independence Day to the Nation; 
(B) supports the continued celebration of 
Juneteenth Independence Day to provide an op-
portunity for the people of the United States to 
learn more about the past and to better under-
stand the experiences that have shaped the Na-
tion; and 
(C) encourages the people of the United 
States to observe Juneteenth Independence Day 
with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and pro-
grams; and 
(2) it is the sense of the House of Representa-
tives that— 
(A) the celebration of the end of slavery is 
an important and enriching part of the history 
and heritage of the United States; and 
(B) history should be regarded as a means 
for understanding the past and solving the chal-
lenges of the future. 
Æ 
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