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 the state's culture, and entire communities
1-13     began to commemorate June 19 and the pivotal role it played in our
1-14     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 Texas Emancipation Juneteenth
1-18     Cultural and Historical Commission works to ensure that the holiday
1-19     is given its proper observance, and these efforts have earned
1-20     commission members the respect and gratitude of their fellow
1-21     Texans; and
1-22           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives commends the
1-23     goals and objectives of the Texas Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural
1-24     and Historical Commission and Juneteenth USA and welcomes the
 2-1     opportunity to provide a setting for their members' activities;
 2-2     now, therefore, be it
 2-3           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-4     Legislature, in accordance with the rules and policies of the
 2-5     Committee on House Administration, hereby grant permission to the
 2-6     Texas Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural and Historical Commission
 2-7     and Juneteenth USA to use the house chamber on Friday, June 1,
 2-8     2001, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., provided that the house is not in
 2-9     session.
                                                                     Edwards
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 495 was adopted by the House on March
         27, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House