US Congress votes to make ‘Juneteenth’ a federal holiday

Congress sends a bill to President Biden making June 19 a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the US.

The United States Congress passed a bill on Wednesday to make Juneteenth, or June 19, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the country. By an overwhelming vote, the US House followed the Senate in passing the bill, sending it to President Joe Biden for his signature. The Senate had passed the bill on June 15 by unanimous consent agreement that expedited the process for considering legislation. “The passage of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act is a long-overdue recognition for generations of pain and suffering of our Black communities,” said Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat.