Today, President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act which will make Juneteenth (June 19th) a federal holiday. This holiday will become the 12th public holiday. The last bill declaring a new federal holiday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was signed into law in 1983.
Juneteenth recognizes the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in Texas, and thus the true end of slavery in the United States. This occurred in 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Lincoln.
Because Juneteenth falls on a Saturday this year, federal employees will observe the holiday tomorrow, on June 18th.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!