Juneteenth is a day commemorating the emancipation of slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865.

Today, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced that he would introduce bipartisan legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Earlier this week, a resolution from Cornyn honoring Juneteenth this year passed the U.S. Senate.

“One of the most defining days in our nation’s history was when President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, finally freeing all slaves in Confederate territory,” Cornyn said.

Calls for Juneteenth to become a federal holiday have gained momentum after the police killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests that have forced the nation to grapple with its history of slavery and racism.