{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=F4B7FB68-06F9-43B9-8EE4-EED82B84C1CD", "MISS. SENATORS RECOGNIZE JUNETEENTH INDEPENDENCE DAY", "2016-06-17", "2016", "2016-06", "Republican", "House", "MS", "Thad Cochran", "C000567", "www.cochran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today honored the end of slavery by cosponsoring a resolution to designate June 19, 2016, as \u201cJuneteenth Independence Day.\u201d The Senate unanimously approved the measure, S.Res.500, authored by Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas.\u00a0 The resolution designates this year\u2019s \u201cJuneteenth Independence Day\u201d in recognition of June 19, 1865. This date commemorates three significant developments:\u00a0 when slavery came to an end in the United States; when the end of the Civil War was finally announced in Galveston, Texas; and when the full force of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued Jan. 1, 1863, was felt throughout the nation. \u201cJuneteenth recognizes the past and the continued need to work toward a more just nation,\u201d Cochran said. \u201cIt is good that the Senate is marking the importance of this historic event.\u201d\u201cJuneteenth is a significant day in American history \u2013 one that should be commemorated every year,\u201d Wicker said. \u201cThis day represents our continued work to provide equality and justice for all. It is fitting to honor this milestone of freedom, recognizing our nation\u2019s progress.\u201dThe resolution states that the U.S. Senate \u201crecognizes that the observance of the end of slavery is part of the history and heritage of the United States,\u201d and \u201csupports the continued nationwide celebration of \u2018Juneteenth Independence Day\u2019 to provide an opportunity for the people of the United States to learn more about the past and to better understand the experiences that have shaped the United States.\u201dToday, Mississippi, 44 other states and the District of Columbia formally recognize Juneteenth. Celebrations commemorating this historic moment will take place across the country on June 19 \u201cto honor African-American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures,\u201d as the measure states.\r\n###\r\n  LINK:  \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0S.Res.500 is available below or here http://1.usa.gov/1PydOJC", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=F4B7FB68-06F9-43B9-8EE4-EED82B84C1CD"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3767150230705738, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}