S.Res. 781
Marks June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth National Independence Day
The Senate honors June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth National Independence Day, marking the 1865 date when news that slavery had ended reached enslaved people in Texas and the Southwest.
- Recognizes June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers led by General Gordon Granger brought the news to Galveston, Texas
- Notes the news reached the Southwest more than 2 and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation
- Says slavery was not officially abolished until the 13th Amendment was ratified in December 1865
- Supports continued nationwide celebration so people can learn about the nation's past
Adopted by the Senate