Bill to make Juneteenth a holiday gets House approval, awaits Biden’s sign
- The vote ended at a tally of 415-14
- The bill is expected to land on Biden's desk on Saturday
- If passed, it will make Juneteenth America's 11th federal holiday
The bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday in the United States has crossed all legislative hurdles and now makes its way to get the final executive approval of President Joe Biden.
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, passed the bill with an overwhelming majority of 415-14. The bill is expected to land on Biden’s desk by Saturday.
If signed and made into law, June 19 will be declared a federal holiday to mark the termination of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is likely to be America’s 11th federal holiday.
Matt Rosendale, a GOP Representative from the state of Montana, voted against the legislation in the House and said it was “an effort by the Left to create a day out of whole cloth to celebrate identity politics”, reported NBC News.
The possibility of Juneteenth, which is also known as Emancipation Day and Black Independence Day, becoming a federal holiday was widely celebrated by members of the Democratic party.
Sheila Jackson Lee, a sponsor of the bill and a Democrat from Texas, said that it had been a long journey, but now “we are here”.
Related Articles
ADVERTISEMENT