Political Quotes

“I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to the resolutions be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The resolutions were agreed to. The preambles were agreed to. The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows: S. Res. 496 (Observing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day) Whereas news of the end of slavery did not reach frontier areas of the United States, and in particular the Southwestern States, for more than 2\1/2\ years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued on January 1, 1863, and months after the conclusion of the Civil War; Whereas, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were free; Whereas African Americans who had been slaves in the Southwest celebrated June 19<SUP></SUP>, commonly known as ``Juneteenth Independence Day'', as the anniversary of their emancipation; Whereas African Americans from the Southwest continue the tradition of celebrating Juneteenth Independence Day as inspiration and encouragement for future generations; Whereas, for more than 145 years, Juneteenth Independence Day celebrations have been held to honor African-American freedom while encouraging self-…”