U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson has withdrawn a proposal to replace Columbus Day with a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Johnson, R-Oshkosh, announced Friday that he and fellow Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma instead plan to introduce a proposal to reduce paid leave time for federal employees in order to offset the costs of a proposed Juneteenth holiday.

In a statement, Johnson said “many were not happy” with his original amendment to a bipartisan bill designating June 19 as an 11th federal holiday but that his intention was “to start a discussion.” “Let me reiterate: I suggested Columbus Day for the swap because few Americans in the private sector get it as a paid holiday, and as a result, it is lightly celebrated, and would not be disruptive to most Americans’ schedules,” Johnson said.