R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, For more than 100 years, Texans have celebrated June
 1-2     19 as Emancipation Day or "Juneteenth," for it was on that date in
 1-3     1865 that African-American slaves in this state finally gained the
 1-4     freedom nominally conferred on them by the Emancipation
 1-5     Proclamation; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, Although President Abraham Lincoln formally outlawed
 1-7     slavery on January 1, 1863, true emancipation was not achieved
 1-8     until the end of the Civil War, when Union troops brought
 1-9     enforcement of the doctrine to the states of the Confederacy; in
1-10     the years after General Gordon Granger delivered President
1-11     Lincoln's message to the Lone Star State, Juneteenth celebrations
1-12     became a vital part of African-American culture, and entire
1-13     communities began to commemorate June 19 and the pivotal role it
1-14     played in our state's history; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Recognizing the significance this date holds for all
1-16     Texans, the 66th Texas Legislature designated June 19 as an
1-17     official state holiday; today, the Juneteenth Emancipation
1-18     Association works to ensure that the holiday is given its proper
1-19     observance, and these efforts have earned association members the
1-20     respect and gratitude of their fellow Texans; and
1-21           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives commends the
1-22     goals and objectives of the Juneteenth Emancipation Association and
1-23     welcomes the opportunity to provide a setting for its members'
1-24     activities; now, therefore, be it
 2-1           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-2     Legislature, in accordance with the rules and policies of the
 2-3     Committee on House Administration, hereby grant permission to the
 2-4     Juneteenth Emancipation Association to use the house chamber on
 2-5     Thursday, June 3, 1999, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., provided that the
 2-6     house is not in session.
                                                                     Edwards
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 383 was adopted by the House on March
         23, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House