Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) announced during Holy Week that he is going to introduce legislation to make Easter Monday a federal holiday and in so doing recognize “a tradition that is central to Western civilization.”

Schmitt explained that Easter is “the holiest day in Christianity,” and that 81% of residents of the United States celebrate the holiday. However, he noted that an issue with the nation’s federal holiday schedule makes it “too difficult” to celebrate together, citing how Easter can fall within either March or April during “the longest unbroken work stretch of the calendar,” a reference to how the next federal holiday after President’s Day in February is Memorial Day in May.