U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R) has introduced a bipartisan Senate resolution commemorating Juneteenth National Independence Day, recognizing the holiday's historical significance and supporting its continued nationwide observance.
What does the resolution do?
Sen. John Cornyn (R), who helped lead the effort to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021, introduced a Senate resolution honoring Juneteenth National Independence Day.
The resolution commemorates June 19, 2026, recognizes the historical significance of Juneteenth, and encourages continued nationwide observance and education about the end of slavery in the United States.
Cornyn was joined by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and 21 bipartisan Senate colleagues in sponsoring the measure.
Why is Juneteenth significant?
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved people that they were free, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
The holiday originated in Texas and has been celebrated by African American communities for more than 150 years. In 2021, Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday after legislation led by Cornyn was signed into law.
As our nation celebrates #Juneteenth, we remember and honor the end of slavery as well as when General Gordon Granger and his soldiers arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865, to deliver the good news of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
I was proud to work with the…
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) June 19, 2026
What the resolution says
The Senate resolution:
- Commemorates June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth National Independence Day.
- Recognizes the historical significance of the holiday.
- Supports continued nationwide celebration and educational efforts.
- Acknowledges the observance of the end of slavery as part of America's history and heritage.
Cornyn's history with Juneteenth
Cornyn has introduced resolutions honoring Juneteenth annually since 2011. In addition to helping make Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021, he also worked with the late Sheila Jackson Lee on legislation authorizing a federal study of a national Emancipation Trail from Galveston to Houston.
The Bottom Line
As Juneteenth celebrations continue across the country, Cornyn and a bipartisan group of senators are reaffirming the holiday's significance through a Senate resolution recognizing the end of slavery and encouraging Americans to learn more about the history behind Juneteenth.
