Senate Passes Bill Making Juneteenth a National Holiday

The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that designates Juneteenth, the anniversary of the emancipation of those who were enslaved in the United States, a national holiday.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reportedly asked for unanimous consent to advance the bill and no members of either party objected. The bill’s leading co-sponsor was Republican Texas senator John Cornyn, who wrote a statement on Twitter applauding the bipartisan approval of the measure. 

“Happy that my bill to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday just passed the Senate. It has been a state holiday in Texas for more than 40 years. Now more than ever, we need to learn from our history and continue to form a more perfect union,” Cornyn tweeted.

The news of the legislation’s passing in the Senate chamber comes after Republican Senator Ron Johnson clarified that he had no intention to block it. He did comment, however, that he took issue with the “cost and lack of the debate,” claiming it “seems strange” that having taxpayers provide federal employees paid time off is now required to celebrate the end of slavery.”