House passes bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday

The House on Wednesday passed legislation that would make June 19, or Juneteenth, a federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the U.S. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate on Tuesday and will now go to President Biden's desk for his signature, which would make Juneteenth the nation's 12th federal holiday.

"On behalf of all who have waited for this, I thank them," Representative Sheila Jackson Lee said after the vote. "There is more to come in changing lives for justice, equality and freedom. That is what happened today."  Jackson Lee and Senator Ed Markey each introduced Juneteenth bills last summer in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of a White police officer, but neither received a floor vote. The two lawmakers reintroduced their bills earlier this year with broad bipartisan support.