Texas HCR 6: Urging Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Bill Text

89(R) HCR 6 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

  

  

  
 H.C.R. No. 6

  

  

   

 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

   

        WHEREAS, Galveston holds a special place in American history 

  

 as the birthplace of Juneteenth, the longstanding observance that 

  

 commemorates the end of slavery in Texas and, more generally, in the 

  

 United States as a whole; and

  

        WHEREAS, Juneteenth stems from the events of June 19, 1865, 

  

 when the Union Army arrived in Galveston following the end of the 

  

 Civil War; in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln's 

  

 Emancipation Proclamation, General Gordon Granger issued General 

  

 Order No. 3, which proclaimed that all enslaved persons in Texas 

  

 were free and that there would be "an absolute equality of personal 

  

 rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves"; 

  

 during the months that followed, this news traveled across the 

  

 state from Galveston and was joyously received by the approximately 

  

 250,000 men, women, and children in Texas who had been living in 

  

 bondage; and

  

        WHEREAS, The anniversary of this momentous event came to be 

  

 known as "Juneteenth," and it has since been marked with a variety 

  

 of festivities; during the 20th century, Juneteenth began growing 

  

 in popularity beyond Texas as celebrations spread to cities such as 

  

 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota; in 1979, Texas 

  

 became the first state to make Juneteenth an official state 

  

 holiday, and Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal 

  

 holiday, was established in 2021 by an act of Congress; and

  

        WHEREAS, Juneteenth is observed in Galveston with an array of 

  

 special events, including a parade, an art exhibition, and a guided 

  

 tour to historic sites; in 2021, a public mural entitled Absolute 

  

 Equality was completed in downtown Galveston as an initiative of 

  

 the Juneteenth Legacy Project; spanning 5,000 square feet, the 

  

 vibrant and richly detailed mural by Reginald C. Adams depicts the 

  

 origins of Juneteenth and the journey of Black Americans from 

  

 slavery to freedom; and

  

        WHEREAS, Galveston's historical association with Juneteenth 

  

 has made the city an important destination for those looking to 

  

 reflect on a landmark moment for our nation and on the ideals of 

  

 freedom, equality, and justice that the holiday represents, and it 

  

 is indeed fitting that the city's seminal role in the Juneteenth 

  

 observance be officially honored; now, therefore, be it

  

        RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas 

  

 hereby designate Galveston as the official Juneteenth Capital of 

  

 Texas; and, be it further

  

        RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section 

  

 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect 

  

 until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally 

   

 passed by the legislature.

  

   

 Leo Wilson

   

 Manuel

   

 Ward Johnson

   

 A. Davis of Dallas

   

 Jones of Harris

   

 Bhojani

   

 Flores

  

  

  
 ______________________________
 ______________________________

  
    President of the Senate
 Speaker of the House     

  

  

   

        I certify that H.C.R. No. 6 was adopted by the House on May 1, 

   

 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 133, Nays 5, 3 present, not 

   

 voting.

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Chief Clerk of the House   

  

  

   

        I certify that H.C.R. No. 6 was adopted by the Senate on May 

   

 9, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Secretary of the Senate   

   

 APPROVED: __________________

   

                 Date       

   

  

   

          __________________

   

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