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Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
Summary
This bill directs the Architect of the Capitol to create and bury a time capsule on the West Lawn of the Capitol by July 4, 2026, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Congressional leadership will jointly determine the contents, which will include materials related to the semiquincentennial, copies of important Congressional milestones, and a message from Congress to the future. The capsule will remain sealed until July 4, 2276, when it will be presented to Congress for decisions on how to preserve or use the contents.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
26 cosponsors
- Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4] (R-AL)
- Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA)
- Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6] (R-AZ)
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO)
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA)
- Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1] (R-AR)
- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC)
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA)
- Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3] (R-TN)
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX)
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA)
- Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7] (R-NJ)
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY)
- Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11] (R-NY)
- Rep. McClain, Lisa C. [R-MI-9] (R-MI)
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA)
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ)
- Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4] (R-UT)
- Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27] (R-FL)
- Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] (R-PA)
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV)
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY)
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY)
- Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-NJ)
- Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2] (R-SC)
- Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (R-VA)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Bonnie Watson Coleman’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- BEIGENE $13,400
- PRINCETON UNIVERSITY $11,150
- WINNING STRATEGIES WASHINGTON $8,600
- NEW JERSEY DEPT. OF HEALTH $7,600
- GHO VENTURES, LLC $7,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Bonnie Watson Coleman → · Outside spending →
Actions (10)
- Feb 27, 2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. · senate
- Feb 26, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · house
- Feb 26, 2025 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H855-856) · house
- Feb 26, 2025 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H855-856)
- Feb 26, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 469. · house
- Feb 26, 2025 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H855-857) · house
- Feb 26, 2025 Mr. Steil moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. · house
- Jan 16, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. · house
- Jan 15, 2025 Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. · house
- Jan 15, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Text versions (3)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
AN ACT
To provide for the creation of a Congressional time capsule in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act”.
SEC. 2. SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL CONGRESSIONAL TIME CAPSULE.
(a) Creation by Architect of the Capitol.—The Architect of the Capitol shall create a Congressional time capsule, to be known as the “Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule” (in this Act referred to as the “Time Capsule”).
(b) Contents.—
(1) Determination by congressional leadership.—The Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Office of the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Office of the Majority Leader of the Senate, and Office of the Minority Leader of the Senate shall jointly determine the contents of the Time Capsule, taking into account the requirements of paragraph (2).
(2) Specifications.—The contents of the Time Capsule shall include—
(A) a representative portion of all books, manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memorabilia, relics, and other materials relating to the United States Semiquincentennial;
(B) copies or representations of important legislative and institutional milestones of Congress during the time before the Time Capsule is buried;
(C) a message from Congress to the future Congress when the Time Capsule will be opened; and
(D) such other content as the offices described in paragraph (1) consider appropriate.
(3) Consultation.—In carrying out this subsection, the offices described in paragraph (1) may consult with the Architect of the Capitol, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and such other entities of the Federal Government as the offices consider appropriate.
(c) Duties of Architect.—The Architect of the Capitol shall—
(1) prepare the Time Capsule to be sealed and buried on the West Lawn of the Capitol, at a location specified by the Architect, on or before July 4th, 2026, at a time which would permit individuals attending this event to also attend the burial of a time capsule in Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under section 7(f)(1) of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 (36 U.S.C. 101 note prec.); and
(2) install a plaque to provide such information about the Time Capsule as the Architect considers appropriate.
(d) Unsealing.—The Time Capsule shall be sealed until July 4th, 2276, on which date the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall present the Time Capsule to the 244th Congress, and such Congress shall determine how the contents within should be preserved or used.
Passed the House of Representatives February 26, 2025.
Attest:
Clerk. 119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 469
AN ACT
To provide for the creation of a Congressional time capsule in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United States, and for other purposes.
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