PRINTER'S NO. 766
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
664
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY HELM, WATERS, KINSEY, MUSTIO, COHEN, LONGIETTI,
KIM, READSHAW, REGAN, SCHREIBER, GRELL, BISHOP, THOMAS,
PICKETT, MILLARD, DiGIROLAMO, HENNESSEY, V. BROWN, WHEELAND,
O'NEILL, SCHWEYER, ROZZI, SONNEY, TOEPEL, YOUNGBLOOD,
FREEMAN, STURLA, BROWNLEE, BOBACK, GINGRICH, DIAMOND, FARINA,
DONATUCCI, ROSS, DeLUCA, CUTLER, KAUFFMAN, KIRKLAND, MARSICO,
DUSH, RAPP, C. PARKER, McNEILL, MENTZER, WATSON, R. BROWN,
MAJOR, MURT, MAHONEY, GROVE, WHEATLEY, KORTZ, HAHN, REED,
ROEBUCK, BAKER, SAYLOR, CORBIN, PHILLIPS-HILL, KAMPF,
McCARTER, TOOHIL, QUINN, MOUL, FABRIZIO AND GIBBONS,
FEBRUARY 27, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY 27, 2015
AN ACT
Providing for the annual designation and holiday observance of
the third Saturday in June as "Juneteenth National Freedom
Day" in this Commonwealth.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings.
The General Assembly hereby finds and declares as follows:
(1) Originating in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865,
when slaves in that state learned that they had been freed,
"Juneteenth National Freedom Day" is the oldest African-
American holiday observance in the United States.
(2) "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" commemorates the
survival instinct of Africans who endured a transatlantic
journey, known as the Middle Passage, on slave ships from
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their homeland to this country.
(3) Approximately 11.5 million Africans survived the
harsh voyage to slave markets in the New World, and the slave
population in America grew quickly.
(4) "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" further
commemorates the impact of slavery, the abolition movement
and African-American emancipation in the United States and
has become a traditional celebration of independence, human
rights and African-American culture in many communities.
(5) Recognition of "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" in
this Commonwealth would encourage all governmental entities,
civic organizations, schools and institutions of higher
education in this Commonwealth to observe the day in a manner
that emphasizes the meaning and importance of the end of
slavery in the United States and to recognize and celebrate
the importance of this day to every person who cherishes
liberty and equality for all people.
(6) "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" is celebrated
annually in at least 37 states nationwide.
Section 2. Designation.
The third Saturday in June is designated as "Juneteenth
National Freedom Day" in this Commonwealth.
Section 3. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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