Bill Text: PA HB2190 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Providing for the annual designation and holiday observance of the third Saturday in June as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" in this Commonwealth.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-09 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [HB2190 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB2190-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  3076

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

2190

Session of

2012

  

  

INTRODUCED BY HELM, WATERS, BAKER, BEAR, BISHOP, BOBACK, B. BOYLE, BRADFORD, BROOKS, R. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, P. COSTA, DALEY, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FLECK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLEN, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GROVE, HAHN, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, KILLION, KORTZ, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSICO, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MURT, MUSTIO, MYERS, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PAYTON, PRESTON, RAPP, READSHAW, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, CULVER, SONNEY, SWANGER, TAYLOR, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WHEATLEY AND YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 9, 2012  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Providing for the annual designation and holiday observance of

2

the third Saturday in June as "Juneteenth National Freedom

3

Day" in this Commonwealth.

4

The General Assembly hereby finds and declares as follows:

5

(1)  Originating in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865,

6

when slaves in that state learned that they had been freed,

7

"Juneteenth National Freedom Day" is the oldest African-

8

American holiday observance in the United States.

9

(2)  "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" commemorates the

10

survival instinct of Africans who endured a transatlantic

11

journey, known as the Middle Passage, on slave ships from

12

their homeland to this country.

13

(3)  Approximately 11.5 million Africans survived the

14

harsh voyage to slave markets in the New World during the

 


1

late 17th century, and the slave population in the American

2

colonies grew quickly.

3

(4)  "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" further

4

commemorates the impact of slavery, the abolition movement

5

and African-American emancipation in the United States and

6

has become a traditional celebration of independence, human

7

rights and African-American culture in many communities.

8

(5)  Recognition of "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" in

9

this Commonwealth would encourage all governmental entities,

10

civic organizations, schools and institutions of higher

11

education in this Commonwealth to observe the day in a manner

12

that emphasizes the meaning and importance of the

13

emancipation proclamation that ended slavery in the United

14

States and to recognize and celebrate the importance of this

15

day to every person who cherishes liberty and equality for

16

all people.

17

(6)  "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" is celebrated

18

annually in at least 37 states nationwide.

19

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

20

hereby enacts as follows:

21

Section 1.  Designation.

22

The third Saturday in June is designated as "Juneteenth

23

National Freedom Day" in this Commonwealth.

24

Section 2.  Effective date.

25

This act shall take effect immediately.

- 2 -

 


feedback