This bill became law on 2026-02-18 as Public Law No. 119-79.
The summary below describes the bill at the version we last reviewed; the enacted text may differ.
Congressional leaders are creating an official time capsule to mark America's 250th anniversary. The Architect of the Capitol will build it and seal it at the Capitol Visitor Center on or before July 4, 2026, timed to coincide with a similar ceremony at Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Contents will be decided jointly by the Speaker, Minority Leader of the House, and the Senate's Majority and Minority Leaders, and must include a joint letter from those offices. The capsule will remain sealed until July 4, 2276 — 250 years from now — when it will be presented to the 244th Congress.
Congressional Summary
Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule ActThis act requires the Architect of the Capitol to create a congressional time capsule in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to be buried in the Capitol Visitor Center on or before July 4, 2026.The time capsule shall contain a joint letter from congressional leadership (the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate) and such other contents as they shall determine. The act directs the Architect of the Capitol to also install a plaque about the time capsule, subject to the approval of the Committee on House Administration of the House and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.The time capsule shall be sealed until July 4, 2276. On that date, the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader shall present the time capsule to the 244th Congress.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Public Law
- Action Date
- 2026-02-18
- Date Added
- 2026-06-30
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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