119-hres634

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 634 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 634

Recognizing former Texas State Representative Al Edwards as the father 
 of Juneteenth and showing appreciation for successfully passing Texas 
 House Bill 1016, making Texas the first State to recognize Juneteenth 
 (June 19) as an official State holiday.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 August 5, 2025

 Mr. Green of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

Recognizing former Texas State Representative Al Edwards as the father 
 of Juneteenth and showing appreciation for successfully passing Texas 
 House Bill 1016, making Texas the first State to recognize Juneteenth 
 (June 19) as an official State holiday.

Whereas Al Edwards was the first legislator to pass legislation making 
 Juneteenth (June 19) a State holiday;
Whereas Albert Ely ``Al'' Edwards was a civil rights activist and former Texas 
 house member of the Texas Legislature, serving in the legislature from 
 1978 to 2007 and then from 2009 to 2011;
Whereas Al Edwards was born on March 19, 1937, as the sixth child of Rev. E.L. 
 Edwards, Sr., and Josephine Radford Edwards;
Whereas Al Edwards dedicated his career to championing human rights causes, such 
 as making Americans aware of the significance of June 19, 1865, later 
 known as Juneteenth;
Whereas, while serving in the Texas Legislature, Al Edwards served as the Texas 
 State Director for Reverend Jesse Jackson's Presidential campaigns in 
 1984 and 1988;
Whereas Al Edwards also founded ``Operation Justus'', a community-based 
 organization that served as a referral service for persons with social 
 problems and concerns;
Whereas, in 1987, he was arrested and went to jail for peacefully protesting the 
 apartheid regime in South Africa;
Whereas, throughout his tenure in the State legislature, Al Edwards served as 
 the Chairman of the Rules and Resolutions Committee, Chairman of Budget 
 and Oversight of the Ways and Means Committee, and a member of the 
 Appropriations Committee;
Whereas he was elected the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee's Black 
 Caucus and held that position for 6 years;
Whereas, in 1999, the Honorable Al Edwards was appointed Chairman of the Texas 
 Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural and Historical Commission by then-
 Governor George W. Bush;
Whereas Al Edwards is also referred to as ``Mr. Juneteenth'' because of his 
 tireless commitment to the establishment of Juneteenth as a State 
 holiday in Texas through Texas House Bill 1016;
Whereas Al Edwards advocated for Juneteenth's recognition nationwide through 
 work with State legislatures over his decades-long career;
Whereas ultimately Al Edwards was successful in creating a holiday which 
 recognizes the day enslaved individuals in Texas were notified of their 
 newfound freedom;
Whereas today Juneteenth is recognized as a Federal holiday and is celebrated by 
 millions nationwide; and
Whereas, because Al Edwards laid the foundation for Juneteenth becoming a 
 Federal holiday, we resolve to recognize him as the father of 
 Juneteenth: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This resolution may be cited as ``The Original Resolution 
Recognizing Al Edwards as the Father of Juneteenth''.

SEC. 2. RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION.

 The House of Representatives recognizes former Texas State 
Representative Al Edwards as the father of Juneteenth and shows 
appreciation for his extraordinary work to garner recognition for the 
day.
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