Burgess Owens: “today there was a little bit of history that meant a great deal to me. The last bill we passed was a bill sponsored by…”

“today there was a little bit of history that meant a great deal to me. The last bill we passed was a bill sponsored by the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts], called the Joint Resolution Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States. I think it is a small gesture, maybe, but it is a very important one for me. It is an important one for a lot of Americans, both black and white, and I was pleased to see that not a single Member of the House of Representatives who was present voted against this joint resolution introduced by the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts]. It is a joint resolution celebrating the end of slavery in the United States. It reads: Whereas news of the end of slavery came late to frontier areas of the country, especially in the American Southwest; and Whereas the African-Americans who had been slaves in the Southwest thereafter celebrated Juneteenth as the anniversary of their emancipation; Whereas their descendants handed down that tradition from generation to generation as an inspiration and encouragement for future generations; Whereas Juneteenth celebrations have thus been held for 130 years to honor the memory of all those who endured slavery and especially those who moved from slavery to freedom; and Whereas their example of faith and strength of character remains a lesson for all Americans today, regardless of background or region or race;”