HR469-119

What This Bill Does

The Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act creates a congressional time capsule for the 250th anniversary of the United States. The Architect of the Capitol must create the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. The Office of the Speaker, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader jointly determine its contents. Required contents include representative books, manuscripts, printed matter, memorabilia, relics, and other materials relating to the U.S. Semiquincentennial; copies or representations of important legislative and institutional milestones of Congress before burial; a message from Congress to the future Congress that opens the capsule; and other content the leadership offices consider appropriate.

The leadership offices may consult the Architect of the Capitol, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and other federal entities. The Architect must prepare the capsule to be sealed and buried on the Capitol West Lawn at a location chosen by the Architect on or before July 4, 2026, timed so attendees can also attend the Independence Mall time capsule burial in Philadelphia. The Architect must install an explanatory plaque. The capsule remains sealed until July 4, 2276, when the Speaker presents it to the 244th Congress, which will decide how to preserve or use the contents.

Who Benefits and How

Future members of the 244th Congress, congressional historians, the Architect of the Capitol, Smithsonian curators, visitors attending semiquincentennial commemorations, civic educators, and the public record of Congress benefit because the bill creates a curated institutional artifact linking the 2026 Congress to the 2276 Congress.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Speaker staff, House minority leadership staff, Senate majority leadership staff, Senate minority leadership staff, Smithsonian consultation staff, Capitol grounds planners, preservation staff, and event coordinators must select contents, prepare the capsule, coordinate consultations, bury it on the West Lawn, install a plaque, preserve access information, and plan around the July 4, 2026 schedule.

Key Provisions

• Requires the Architect of the Capitol to create the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule.
• Requires House and Senate leadership offices to jointly determine the capsule contents.
• Requires contents covering semiquincentennial materials, congressional milestones, and a message to the future Congress.
• Authorizes consultation with the Smithsonian Institution and other federal entities.
• Requires sealing and burial on the Capitol West Lawn by July 4, 2026.
• Requires an informational plaque and keeps the capsule sealed until July 4, 2276.