President Biden has signed the bill into law. Juneteenth is now officially a federal holiday, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. “I’ve only been president for several months, but I think this will go down for me as one of the greatest honors I will have had as president,” said President Biden. The June 19 holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. is already celebrated as a state or ceremonial holiday in 47 states and the District of Columbia. June 19 became the country’s 11th federal holiday.