Congressional Record, House, June 13, 2022, Page H5472
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated June 13, 2022, at page H5472. It carries a presidential message continuing the national emergency with respect to North Korea declared in Executive Order 13466 beyond June 26, 2022. It then carries a Congressional Black Caucus Special Order, in which Mrs. Beatty, chair of the caucus, thanks Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee for recognizing Juneteenth and H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals. A speaker says 58 Black members of the Congressional Black Caucus legislate in these Halls, and recalls the signing that made Juneteenth the 11th national holiday. The remarks are the speakers' own.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Congressional Record, House, June 13, 2022, Page H5472.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-06-13-crec-2022-06-13-pt1-pgh5472-ddedd49ff6/
, SHA-256 a303c96d02700d8598c69c59b33e1d3d026d701cdfd64d62030f461b3fe67c13.Full text
H5472 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2022
the Congress a notice stating that the whose vision has helped us craft this to the White House and joined with
emergency is to continue in effect be- recognition and this Congressional President Joe Biden and Vice President
yond the anniversary date. In accord- Black Caucus Special Order and her KAMALA HARRIS as he signed the his-
ance with this provision, I have sent to recognition of the cruciality of hon- toric legislation that made Juneteenth
the Federal Register for publication the oring those who have never been hon- the 11th national holiday and the first
enclosed notice stating that the na- ored, the acknowledgment of new Federal holiday since Martin Lu-
tional emergency with respect to North Juneteenth, a day of freedom, and as ther King Jr. Day in 1983.
Korea that was declared in Executive well recognizing H.R. 40, the Commis- Now, more than a century-and-a-half
Order 13466 of June 26, 2008, expanded in sion to Study and Develop Reparation later, I stand here as chairwoman of
scope in Executive Order 13551 of Au- Proposals. We thank her for her leader- the largest Congressional Black Caucus
gust 30, 2010, addressed further in Exec- ship and her guidance. in the Nation’s history.
utive Order 13570 of April 18, 2011, fur- Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- Every day, 58 Black members of the
ther expanded in scope in Executive tlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. BEATTY), Congressional Black Caucus legislate
Order 13687 of January 2, 2015, and the chair of the Congressional Black in these Halls built by our enslaved an-
under which additional steps were Caucus. cestors. Six full committee chairs,
taken in Executive Order 13722 of Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I chair of the Democratic Caucus, the
March 15, 2016, and Executive Order thank Congresswoman SHEILA JACKSON House majority whip, former senior ad-
13810 of September 20, 2017, is to con- LEE, the chair of our Special Order, ex- viser to the President, and Vice Presi-
tinue in effect beyond June 26, 2022. ecutive board member, a person who dent of these United States are all ac-
The existence and risk of the pro- you want to be out front. Whether it is tive and former members of the Con-
liferation of weapons-usable fissile ma- an issue on civil rights, criminal jus- gressional Black Caucus.
terial on the Korean Peninsula; the ac- tice, reparations, voting rights, or do- Madam Speaker, we have come so
tions and policies of the Government of mestic violence, Congresswoman far, but we realize there is still work to
North Korea that destabilize the Ko- SHEILA JACKSON LEE has earned this do. Yes, from being considered one-
rean Peninsula and imperil United day and this right. I could not think of third of a person, we want the Amer-
States Armed Forces, allies, and trad- a better person to stand here as we ican people to know that we continue
ing partners in the region, including its talk about commemorating fighting.
Juneteenth. We know the history all It was the Congressional Black Cau-
pursuit of nuclear and missile pro-
too well of what happened in Texas. cus that brokered the $1 trillion infra-
grams; and other provocative, desta-
Congresswoman SHEILA JACKSON LEE structure law for our roads and bridges
bilizing, and repressive actions and
hails from Texas. and provided little children a
policies of the Government of North broadband network. It was the $1,400 in
Today, as we talk about Black excel-
Korea, continue to constitute an un- the pockets of everyday Americans, the
lence, as we talk about the members of
usual and extraordinary threat to the $300 a month for working families with
the Congressional Black Caucus,
national security, foreign policy, and children, the historic funding for
Madam Speaker, we speak to America
economy of the United States. HBCUs, and each Congressional Black
tonight. We want America to know
For this reason, I have determined
that as we commemorate Juneteenth, Caucus member bringing community
that it is necessary to continue the na-
it is about our work; it is about our dollars to their district.
tional emergency declared in Executive We have seen one of the most con-
scholarship; it is about our fight. You
Order 13466 with respect to North sequential civil rights legislations aim-
will hear a broad range of issues that
Korea. ing at interrupting the school-to-prison
we are so proud to stand up for and let
JOSEPH R. BIDEN, Jr. pipeline and uplifting Black men and
THE WHITE HOUSE, June 13, 2022. America know we are there.
I could not think of a better issue to boys, the U.S. Commission on Social
f weave into Juneteenth than repara- Status of Black Men and Boys, created
b 1945 tions, H.R. 40. SHEILA JACKSON LEE, if and birthed by our very own Congress-
you have been in the room with her, woman FREDERICA WILSON, a sojourner
CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH
you have heard her say it at the White for our Black men and boys.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under House, you have heard her say it at Tonight, you will hear other mem-
the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- caucus, you have heard her go in the bers of the Congressional Black Caucus
uary 4, 2021, the gentlewoman from Halls of Congress talking about H.R. commemorate our successes in the
Texas (Ms. JACKSON LEE) is recognized 40. I could stop there, but I can tell you spirit of Juneteenth.
for 60 minutes as the designee of the that piece of legislation has her finger- But, Madam Speaker, in the immor-
majority leader. prints on it and the signatures of 200- tal words of Dr. Maya Angelou: Bring-
GENERAL LEAVE plus Members. What a great way for me ing the gifts that our ancestors gave,
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, to start and to stand here as chair of we are the dream and the hope of the
I ask unanimous consent that all Mem- the Congressional Black Caucus. slave.
bers may have 5 legislative days in Tonight, we commemorate a day in I am proud to proclaim on this floor
which to revise and extend their re- our Nation’s history that can only be tonight: Happy Juneteenth Day. Our
marks and submit additional materials described as a celebration of freedom, power, our message.
and statements. Juneteenth. Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker,
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there On June 19, 1865, enslaved African I thank the gentlewoman for her dis-
objection to the request of the gentle- Americans in Texas received the joyous tinguished presentation.
woman from Texas? news of emancipation and that they I will take a moment, as other Mem-
There was no objection. were finally free. bers are on the floor, so I can at least
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, Despite that, we are still enslaved in set the framework of this evening of
it is my privilege to proceed under this many ways, so it is critical for Amer- which she has done so ably. I think the
Special Order of the Congressional ica to know of our fight and our cornerstone of the chairwoman’s re-
Black Caucus. It is my pleasure now to progress. marks is that we have been building on
begin to frame this very important Tonight, you will hear Members dis- Juneteenth, as members of the Con-
week to commemorate Juneteenth, the cuss our work on criminal justice, rep- gressional Black Caucus, for all of our
second acknowledgment of the Federal arations, uplifting of our Black men tenure in Congress. We have done it by
holiday created on June 17, 2021, by and boys, racial equity, fair housing, the myriad of legislative initiatives
President Joe Biden—present, of and so much more. We are leading the that continue to build and repair what
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
course, was Vice President KAMALA charge and laying the foundation to de- was generated from the 246 years of
HARRIS—when the first holiday for liver on voting rights, student loan slavery.
nearly 40 years, Federal holiday, was debt, and gun control. Tonight, we tell Let me, first of all, read into the
established. our story of Black excellence. RECORD that order of General Gordon
I am pleased to be able to yield to the Nearly 1 year ago, on June 17, 2021, Granger on June 19, 1865, on the shores
distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio the Congressional Black Caucus went of Galveston, Texas:
VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:03 Jun 14, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.022 H13JNPT1
June 13, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5473
‘‘The people of Texas are informed were never given the dignity of a I thank the distinguished gentlewoman
that, in accordance with a proclama- human being. They died as less than a from Texas for leading the effort.
tion from the Executive of the United person, as the Constitution dictated, I first came to know of Juneteenth
States, all slaves are free. This in- for at least a century. They never had when I was a student at the LBJ
volves an absolute equality of personal that dignity of who they were and the School of Public Affairs in the summer
rights and rights of property between work they did and the building of the between my junior year and my senior
former masters and slaves, and the economic engine of America and the year and had not heard—I am just a
connection heretofore existing between shedding of blood in both the Revolu- kid from Brooklyn—had not heard
them becomes that between employer tionary War and the wars in between about Juneteenth. Folks down there
and hired labor. The Freedmen are ad- and the Civil War. said we are going to celebrate
vised to remain quietly at their present As we look at these scars, that is why Juneteenth. I said June what? I was
homes and work for wages. They are I am so adamant about H.R. 40, the unsure of it, growing up proudly as an
informed that they will not be allowed Commission to Study and Develop Rep- African American in New York City,
to collect at military posts and that aration Proposals. Because even in the something that had been in the heart
they will not be supported in idleness pronouncement of freedom, Chair- and soul of the people of Texas and
either there or elsewhere.’’ woman BEATTY, Chairman JEFFRIES, throughout the south but hadn’t nec-
Most people have not heard the en- Chair BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN—even essarily made it into my consciousness.
tire order. in the proclamation of freedom, they I was thankful for that moment.
Union soldiers, up to 200,000, fought did not have freedom. They were quali- I think about that journey to a point
in the Civil War and died. Union sol- fied in their freedom. now where we have a Federal holiday
diers were killed by Confederate sol- With that in mind, I continue to to mark the journey of African Ameri-
diers. Rather than, under the laws of raise up this bill, with almost 217 co- cans and the progress that has been
the military protocol, captured as pris- sponsors, to this week even become an made but the need to continue, of
oners of war, they shot them dead. executive order, pronouncement of course, to do more.
Blood was shed by slaves, or Freed- such, or ultimately passed by the As Chairwoman BEATTY talked about
men, and the order that we all so often House of Representatives, that is, H.R. some of the things that the Congres-
praised, let me be very clear, General 40, the Commission to Study and De- sional Black Caucus has worked on, I
Granger said you are free, but your velop Reparation Proposals. think this Juneteenth marker is an im-
posture, your framework, the guide- I am prepared to yield to the chair- portant point in time both to reflect
post, is you are not to leave. You are man of the House Democratic Caucus, upon what has been done, but also, of
now employer and not even employee who has certainly evidenced the es- course, to mark what still needs to be
but hired labor. sence of freedom in our work together done to continue America’s march to-
There was no obligation for Freed- on criminal justice reform. I think he ward a more perfect Union.
men to stay and take a job, and most well knows what the 13th Amendment We weren’t promised a perfect coun-
of the slaves looked askance. They left us with, as well as General Grang- try. We know the Framers of this great
didn’t understand what ‘‘employer’’ er’s order. I hope that he has heard Republic themselves were imperfect.
was. That is not a word they had ever that even in freedom, we were given We were never promised a perfect coun-
heard, in any large sense, and ‘‘hired qualifications and structures and stric- try. Slavery was in existence when the
labor.’’ We are free. tures, and we were denied the true free- Republic was founded, but they did
Tonight, we speak about freedom. dom of this Nation. promise a march toward a more perfect
They were free. Yet, even in the good- Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- Union that America could try to con-
ness of that order, they were advised to tleman from New York (Mr. JEFFRIES). tinue to be the best version of herself.
remain at their present homes, prob- And that is what the Congressional
ably something that had been given to b 2000
Black Caucus has really been all about.
the plantation and the masters and to Mr. JEFFRIES. Madam Speaker, I In our 51 years I can’t stand here in
work for wages. It did not say what thank the distinguished gentlewoman the time that I have to catalogue all
kind of wages, what kind of work con- from the great State of Texas, the that has been done, but if you just look
ditions you had, what kind of workers’ Chair of the Crime, Terrorism and at what has occurred in the last 10 or 15
comp, insurance. No, they were in- Homeland Security Subcommittee, years; signature pieces of legislation
formed that they would not be allowed SHEILA JACKSON LEE, for yielding and year after year after year; Congress-
to collect at military posts, and as if for her leadership in so many different man DANNY DAVIS leading the effort to
that had been the slaves’ mantra, they areas, particularly as it relates to the pass the Second Chance Act to make
even challenged them to not be sup- effort to make sure that we explore to sure that incarcerated individuals and
ported in idleness either there or else- the greatest extent possible the legacy others who need a second chance at life
where. that still remains in terms of the dam- could successfully reintegrate into so-
Let me tell you, by this very potent age that was done relative to the en- ciety in a way that helps them as indi-
picture, what the ancestors had gone slavement of people of African descent viduals, their families, our commu-
through for 246 years. For those who here in the United States of America. nities, as well as taxpayers. That was a
were born, lived, and died in the bru- We have come a long way in this bill that was signed into law by a Re-
tality of slavery, this was their lives, great country, but we still have a long publican President George Bush. Lead-
the separation of families and the way to go, racism is in the soil of ership from the Congressional Black
unnaming of families. They had first America going all the way back to 1619. Caucus.
names, or they were called ‘‘husband’’ It is an honor to stand here with my Certainly, in that criminal justice re-
or ‘‘wife.’’ They were not given the dig- distinguished colleagues, the chair of form space we know that Chairman
nity of a name. This was their lot. the Congressional Black Caucus, the BOBBY SCOTT in 2010 led the effort to
So Juneteenth, its essence was free- Honorable JOYCE BEATTY, who has done pass the Fair Sentencing Act, which
dom, but the words were hesitant. Even such an amazing job leading us forward lowered the 100 to 1 egregious crack co-
though slavery had been abolished, as in this Congress and, of course, the dis- caine sentencing disparity—that dis-
most people will know, except for con- tinguished gentlewoman from the great parity between crack cocaine and pow-
victed persons, which made them as a State of New Jersey, Congresswoman der cocaine—and dropped it down to 18
challenged amendment, if you will, be- BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN. I thank you, to 1 in a way that allowed thousands of
cause that process of prisoners contin- Madam Speaker, for presiding over this individuals, the overwhelming major-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
ued into the 20th century. particular discussion. ity of whom were Black men, to be re-
But I say this to say, as we begin our Juneteenth as a Federal holiday is an leased back into society to live produc-
discussion, and I will just make this amazing development. An effort was tive lives.
point, I am here to honor those who led by the Congressional Black Caucus There was still more work that need-
never were honored, whose names were and, of course, the legislation was ed to be done. We took up the effort in
never called, whose funerals or burials signed into law by President Joe Biden. 2018, and collectively the Congressional
VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:03 Jun 14, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.039 H13JNPT1
H5474 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2022
Black Caucus passed the FIRST STEP And, of course, it was our great whip, repair and our opportunity to study
Act. Representative SHEILA JACKSON JIM CLYBURN, who led the effort to how we can repair the pain and the in-
LEE was very involved in that effort as make sure that we put into place a justice that was accorded to our com-
a member of the Judiciary Committee, process so that we can get high-speed munity.
Cedric Richmond, KAREN BASS, myself, internet access in every single commu- I need to recognize my leader, JOYCE
others, JOYCE BEATTY, BONNIE WATSON nity. This is the CBC staying on the BEATTY, because under her leadership
COLEMAN were supportive, and we were case. she has amplified our voice is our
able to take that 18 to 1 and make it So I am thankful for the leadership power. And on whatever level we decide
retroactive, which the Senate refused of my colleagues within the Congres- that we must speak and we must act,
to do in 2010, and enact a wide variety sional Black Caucus, thankful that our JOYCE BEATTY has reminded us that
of sentencing reforms that created a chair has continued to pull us together our voice is our power because the Con-
fairer more equitable criminal justice and lead us in such a phenomenal way, gressional Black Caucus believes in ex-
system resulting in thousands of indi- thankful for BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN, ercising that power on behalf of com-
viduals being able to successfully re- who is one of the most principled pub- munities that have been underrep-
integrate back into society, save tax- lic servants you will find anywhere in resented for so very long, whether it is
payer dollars, but also repaired lives, these United States, thankful for SHEI- environmental justice, social justice,
repaired families, repaired commu- LA JACKSON LEE and what she is doing criminal justice reform, housing, or
nities. to lead us forward to examine through just whether or not the whole system
The overwhelming majority of folks, H.R. 40 the legacy of slavery and the needs to be examined as it impacted us.
again, who were released, 90 percent, fact that perhaps the least that we can I thank the chair of our caucus, who
Black men. do is have a study to figure out the took us through a journey that re-
Why? damage that was done through the sys-
Because it was Black men who bore minded me, as I was sitting there, of
tematic rape and kidnapping, lynching, the good work that we have been able
the brunt of the failed war on drugs
and oppression decade after decade, to do. I tell you that I feel like I am
and the failure of so-called lock ‘em up
and throw away the key sentencing century into century and then its prog- standing here in a very sacred space,
schemes, all of which didn’t make us eny in the context of Jim Crow and the and I want to speak in the spirit that
safer, as people were banished, often institutional discrimination that re- flows through us that was left by Shir-
for nonviolent drug offenses. That was mains with us today. The least that ley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, John
the Congressional Black Caucus. perhaps we can do at some point is fig- Lewis, Elijah Cummings, and Alcee
It was the Congressional Black Cau- ure out how we can study the issue, Hastings, and so many more that have
cus led by FREDERICA WILSON that building upon all of the work that the gone before us and have opened the
passed into law the Commission on the CBC has been able to do today. doors and pushed through the doors so
Social Status of Black Men and Boys Juneteenth gives us an opportunity that we might be here this evening to
and it was signed into law by a Repub- to mark the progress that we have address you.
lican President, passed through a Re- made, and of course, think about a vi- So, yes, slavery—supposedly freedom
publican-controlled United States Sen- sion for the future as we continue our from it—came to us in 1865, and today
ate. Because the Congressional Black long, necessary, and majestic march we commemorate and we celebrate this
Caucus stays on the case. And as was toward a more perfect Union. end of slavery and all the progress that
said during its founding, no permanent I thank you, Madam Speaker, for pre- we have made over the last 157 years.
siding. I thank my classmate and good
friends, no permanent enemies, only b 2015
permanent interests, and the interests friend, JOYCE BEATTY, for her work,
and I certainly approve any message We must also acknowledge, as Chair-
to make sure that these principles:
that she articulates. I thank my col- man HAKEEM JEFFRIES reminded us,
equal protection under the law, liberty
leagues SHEILA JACKSON LEE and the long road ahead toward what would
and justice for all, and fundamental
fairness apply to all Americans regard- BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN who are help- be full equality for Black Americans.
less of race. ing to lead the charge with this Special Let Juneteenth be not just a celebra-
And so that is a very important piece Order. tion or a commemoration, but a ral-
of legislation. That commission is a Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, lying cry as we recommit ourselves to
foundation that, under the leadership I thank the gentleman for taking us the centuries-long struggle for civil
of JOYCE BEATTY, we can continue to through this powerful journey of a con- rights.
make progress, particularly for those tinued fight for freedom by the Con- Through historic measures like the
Black men and boys who have been iso- gressional Black Caucus and incor- American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan
lated and under-resourced and targeted porating all of the relief given for the Infrastructure Law, and executive or-
in our society. continued ailments and disparities of ders on policing and advancing racial
I am thankful that during that same African Americans and leading us to equity, the Biden administration,
Congress there was an effort to more H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and along with this Congress, has taken
fully and robustly fund historically Develop Reparation Proposals for Afri- important steps to address the unique
Black colleges and universities. That can Americans Act, which really are needs of Black communities across the
effort was led by Representative ALMA components of the work that we have country. The time is now to keep that
ADAMS. It was also legislation that been doing. They are the building momentum going.
made it through a Republican-con- blocks of trying to cure extensive dis- Our current moment presents an op-
trolled Senate, Republican-controlled parities. portunity to dismantle systemic injus-
House, signed into law by a Republican Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- tices by bringing Black people from the
President. The CBC stays on the case. tlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. WAT- margins to the mainstream of Amer-
And that is certainly what occurred SON COLEMAN), a Member that has ican society. We as a society must stop
this particular Congress with passage worked on disparities focused on the treating Black people as an after-
of historic infrastructure legislation. journey of Black women, leading on thought. That means we must take di-
That effort was, in part, when we were issues of Black women maternity mor- rect action to end the racial discrimi-
at a stalemate led by our chairwoman, tality, as well as my colleague on the nation that, contrary to what our col-
JOYCE BEATTY, who worked to bring Homeland Security Committee and a leagues across the aisle might like us
the caucus together to a place where number of other collaborations. to believe, still exists today.
we could enact groundbreaking legisla- Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Madam It means ensuring that Black people,
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
tion that will create millions of good- Speaker, I thank the leader of our Spe- especially Black women, are in the
paying jobs, make sure that there is cial Order hour, the magnificent, ex- rooms where decisions are made. It
clean water in every single community, quisite, and always on point the Honor- means passing legislation like the
and we know that it is Black commu- able SHEILA JACKSON LEE for her work CROWN Act, which would put an end to
nities that often suffer from water that on H.R. 40 and reminding us every day the insidious discrimination against
has been poisoned. that within that word ‘‘reparations’’ is Black people because of their hair.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:03 Jun 14, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.040 H13JNPT1
June 13, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5475
In the fight for a more perfect Union, This was obviously not in 1865. This Madam Speaker, I thank Congress-
we can, we should, and we must think was into the 1900s, the 20th century, as woman SHEILA JACKSON LEE for thread-
bigger and bolder. Through policies evidenced—or maybe the late 1800s that ing the needle, for reminding us of the
like those that are outlined in the Black men were being hung, Black history of how we started; 1863. And
Black Women Best economic frame- women were being raped and separated then 2 years later in 1865 when it was
work—which include everything from from families, and the abuse of racism announced that Juneteenth would exist
guaranteed basic income to sweeping was deep and abiding. The Klan would because Black people were free.
criminal justice reform—we can bring raid and burn communities, hospitals, Juneteenth, independence day, freedom
the Black community from peril to churches, homes, and have a reign of day, all of it makes a difference for us
prosperity. When we do that, we bring terror. because we know freedom is never
everybody else along with us. Only This work of the Congressional Black given, it is won.
then will all Americans have the free- Caucus, with the many splinters of leg- Madam Speaker, it gives me great
dom to thrive. islation, can be culminated by the pas- pleasure now—another colleague from
Today, we celebrate this turning sage through a vote on the floor of the the great State of Ohio. Someone who
point in our Nation’s history. Today, House or through an executive order knows the value and importance of
we look back on the milestones we that clearly would provide an answer fighting because she is a fighter. She is
have achieved since then. Today, we to the language here that says: a sojourner who understands that her
continue fighting for that more inclu- Following the abolition of slavery, voice speaks for thousands of individ-
sive, that more equitable, that fairer the United States Government, at the uals, especially Black individuals.
It is a great honor to have a col-
society that really represents the best Federal, State, and local levels, contin-
league that hails from the same State
that America can be. ued to perpetrate, condone, and often
that I hail from, the great State of
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, profit from practices that continued to
Ohio. She walks in the footsteps of
I thank the gentlewoman for bringing brutalize and disadvantage African Congresswoman Marsha Fudge, Con-
to our attention some very unique as- Americans, including share cropping, gresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones,
pects, again, of the Congressional convict leasing, Jim Crow, redlining, and a Congressman—one of the found-
Black Caucus and her work. unequal education, and dispropor- ers of the Congressional Black Cau-
As I travel the country, it is inter- tionate treatment at the hands of the cus—Congressman Lou Stokes.
esting to hear that our community has criminal justice systems, and lack of Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
been so deprived as it relates to the access to healthcare. Harvard Univer- tlewoman from Ohio (Ms. BROWN), from
discrimination against you with re- sity said, If we had it, we would not the 11th District.
spect to your hairstyle. Congress- have been that impacted by COVID in Ms. BROWN of Ohio. Madam Speak-
woman BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN, terms of dying and sickness. This is a er, thank you for the kind introduc-
among other things, was able to lead symbolic depiction that racism and tion. I thank Chairwomen Beatty and
on something, and I hear it often, that discrimination continue to exist. all my Congressional Black Caucus col-
they are so proud of this legislation be- This legislation was updated to say: leagues for highlighting the signifi-
cause it has given dignity to people And develop reparation proposals. That cance of Juneteenth during today’s
whose dignity was taken away. is the key. It is an action item. We Special Order hour.
These are the building blocks that want a response to Black America; a Madam Speaker, the date was Mon-
the Congressional Black Caucus pours response to African Americans; we day, June 19, 1865; the location, Gal-
into the symbolism of honoring want a response to the 57 members of veston, Texas. It was 21⁄2 years after
Juneteenth and H.R. 40, the commis- the Congressional Black Caucus—com- President Lincoln issued the Emanci-
sion that studies slavery. ing from a variety of districts—some pation Proclamation and 2 months
Madam Speaker, as I prepare to allow with small measures of African Amer- after the Civil War ended, 250,000
for an additional speaker to come, let icas. Yet, the recognition of wherever enslaved Black people in Texas still did
me make this point—let me just take they live in America, and as our mem- not know they were free.
this moment as we prepare to yield. bers represent all people, millions of That was until—on that Texas sum-
Madam Speaker, would you give us Americans, they understand the stark mer day—Federal troops rode into
the time, please? disparities they see even in their con- town and a Union general read aloud
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- gressional districts. an order announcing their freedom.
tlewoman has 26 minutes remaining. That is why we stand here today, to Emancipation didn’t happen all at
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, honor Juneteenth which equals free- once, and slavery wasn’t formally abol-
let me put this into the record as I pre- ished until the passage of the 13th
dom. That is why we are here today, to
pare to yield, and emphasize what H.R. Amendment later that year. That 19th
say that we are never giving up the
40 does. As I do so, let me emphasize day in June came to be known as
fight. We are most proud of the fact
why H.R. 40 is so important. Juneteenth, a day celebrating the end
that we collectively came as a body,
This is what you see—it is the hang- of slavery in America.
embraced our work as individual mem- The year following the 1865 declara-
ing of Black men, and it is the presence bers, and got Juneteenth signed. We tion, freedman in Texas organized the
of individuals who are making a spec- will now go into this week speaking first of what became the annual June
tacle of this. There is one Black man about freedom, but also speaking about 19 celebration. Slowly but surely,
already on the ground. There is no evi- truth and the work we have to do. Juneteenth celebrations spread across
dence of a trial, no evidence of guilt. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to the country.
This is an example of what preceded yield to gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Last year, thanks to the hard work of
1865. BEATTY). my friend, my colleague, the dynamic
When you talk about H.R. 40—or even f incomparable Congresswoman SHEILA
when we were trying to make JACKSON LEE, President Biden signed a
Juneteenth a Federal holiday—I intro- CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH
bill into law recognizing Juneteenth as
duced resolutions over and over again The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. a Federal holiday.
and finally got the bill introduced as a JACKSON LEE). Under the Speaker’s an- Juneteenth is a time to celebrate,
Federal holiday, which then we pro- nounced policy of January 4, 2021, the and it is a time to take pride in the
ceeded and worked to get it passed. gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. BEATTY) many contributions of African Ameri-
There was always a question: Why? is recognized for the remainder of the cans to our society and our country
There was always a question about hour as the designee of the majority across the generations.
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
this issue of freedom. You are already leader. It is also a time of remembrance and
free. You live in America. The same Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, to- action. On Juneteenth, we acknowledge
goes for this issue of: Why H.R. 40? Be- night we have heard from leadership in a dark period in our history and its
cause the continuing—continuing—ail- the Congressional Black Caucus and lasting legacy of inequality and injus-
ments that ailed our community did leadership in the Democratic Caucus of tice—a legacy that continues to influ-
not end. the United States Congress. ence our country today. We have made
VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:03 Jun 14, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.042 H13JNPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2022-06-13_crec-2022-06-13-pt1-pgh5472.pdf
- Size
- 283,858 bytes
- SHA-256
- a303c96d02700d8598c69c59b33e1d3d026d701cdfd64d62030f461b3fe67c13
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov