The House of Representatives voted by a 415-14 margin to make June 19th a federal holiday called the Juneteenth National Independence Day, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden’s desk where it will be signed, NPR reports.
Juneteenth commemorates the day when slaves in Galveston, Texas learned of their emancipation in 1865 upon the reading of announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army General Gordon Granger when the Union Army took control of Texas after the Civil War.
All fourteen votes opposing the holiday came from white male Republicans: Andy Biggs (AZ), Mo Brooks (AL), Scott DesJarlais (TN), Tom Tiffany (WI), Thomas Massie (KY), Andrew Clyde (GA), Ronny Jackson (TX), Doug LaMalfa (CA), Ralph Norman (SC), Mike Rogers (AL), Matt Rosendale (MT), Paul Gosar (AZ), Tom McClintock (CA) and Chip Roy (TX).