On the recordJune 19, 2018
I rise today to honor Juneteenth Independence Day, a day that commemorates June 19, 1865, as the date on which slavery came to an end in the United States. On this day, over 150 years ago, and over 2 and half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Texas became the final State where the abolishment of slavery took effect. On this day, we must confront the ugly parts of our history and honor the slaves who suffered and died under a repressive regime. We must also pay tribute to all those who had the strength and conviction to fight to end slavery and keep our Union together. Juneteenth Independence Day is also an important moment to recognize how far we have come and take note of how far we have yet to go. At the time the Constitution was drafted, Native Americans were referred to as savages, African Americans were fractions of human beings, and women were not referred to at all. The genius of our Constitution wasn't its perfection, but rather that it inspired each generation to expand the concepts of liberty and freedom and make our Nation's promise real for more and more people. We must not rest until that liberty and freedom is real for all people, and this Juneteenth let us all recommit to helping our country live up to its fundamental promise and highest ideals. ____________________
