What does Juneteenth mean?
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(CNN) -
The House of Representatives approved this Wednesday a law that establishes June 19 as National Independence Day Juneteenth, a federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, sending the bill to the table of the President Joe Biden for his signature.
The bill was approved by the House of Representatives by 415 votes in favor and 14 against, after the Senate passed it unanimously on Tuesday.
The 14 Republicans who voted against the bill were Representatives Thomas Massie from Kentucky, Mo Brooks from Alabama, Scott DesJarlais from Tennessee, Andy Biggs from Arizona, Tom Tiffany from Wisconsin, Doug LaMalfa from California, Tom McClintock from California, Mike Rogers from Alabama, Matt Rosendale from Montana, Ronny Jackson from Texas, Ralph Norman from South Carolina, Andrew Clyde from Georgia, Chip Roy from Texas and Paul Gosar from Arizona.
The legislation was previously blocked by Conservative Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin in 2020, but he withdrew his objection this week despite his concerns, allowing the bill to advance out of the chamber.
Why is Juneteenth Day so important to the black community in America?
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced the House would vote Wednesday in a tweet thanking the bill's bipartisan proponents, including Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas. , Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts.
"I look forward to bringing this bill to the House, and I urge bipartisan support," Hoyer wrote.
Jackson Lee told reporters before final approval: "What I see here today is the racial divide crumbling, being crushed this day under a momentous vote that brings together people who understand the value of freedom."
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Before the vote, Markey acknowledged that Biden is still abroad on his first international trip, but told reporters that "we will contact the White House" to get this legislation signed as soon as possible.
The legislation has gained momentum following the Black Lives Matter protests triggered by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police last year and the inauguration of the Democrats in the White House and Congress.
What you should know about the day called Juneteenth and why it is talked about so much now
On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, Texas, the end of slavery in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.
In 1980, Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, became a Texas state holiday.
In the decades since, all states except South Dakota came to officially commemorate Juneteenth, but only a handful of states observe it as a paid holiday.
- CNN's Ted Barrett, Ali Zaslav, Alex Rogers and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.
Juneteenth
