[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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