John,

Happy Juneteenth! Today, we remember the official ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger issued General Orders No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, notifying Texans of the Emancipation Proclamation which freed any and all slaves on U.S. soil.

We celebrate Juneteenth every year not only to commemorate this day in our nation's history, but also to remind us of our nation's past and help us look towards a brighter future.

When I was Delaware's Governor, I declared Juneteenth as National Freedom Day because I wanted our state to know the impact slavery had on our nation. And it is more important than ever that we commemorate today.

Just this past week, I was grateful to have the opportunity to vote for a Resolution making Juneteenth a national holiday, a bill the Senate and House quickly passed and President Biden signed into law.

Juneteenth matters because Black Lives Matter. After a year filled with powerful protests, demonstrations, and conversations surrounding race, we still have significant challenges ahead such as passing a comprehensive voting rights bill. However, I hope Juneteenth will serve as inspiration to continue to educate ourselves, combat oppression, and help us be there for one another.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Juneteenth.

Thanks for all you're doing,

TC