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Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

H.R. 469 · 119th Congress (2025-2026)

H.R. 469119TH CONGRESSINTRODUCED 01/15/2025REP. WATSON COLEMAND-NJ · SPONSORLeft: DW-NOMINATE -0.59 (Sponsor Ranking)Lean left: no (Sponsor Ranking)Center: no (Sponsor Ranking)Lean right: no (Sponsor Ranking)Right: no (Sponsor Ranking)LEFT(SPONSOR RANKING)CONGRESS

27 members · Left 11 · Center 4 · Right 12 (Bill Ranking)

SponsorRep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie (D-NJ) (Introduced 01/15/2025)
Sponsor Voting RecordLeft · DW-NOMINATE -0.59 · measured from every roll-call vote this member has cast (voteview.com) (Sponsor Ranking)
Support
LLLCLRR

support across the spectrum: 27 members signed on (Bill Ranking) this bill: sponsor + current cosponsors, each once

CommitteesSenate - Rules and Administration Committee; House - Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; House - Committee on House Administration
Latest Action02/27/2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Roll Call VotesThere have been no roll call votes
Sourceview on congress.gov →
IntroducedPassed HousePassed SenateResolving DifferencesTo PresidentBecame Law

Summary (1)

Introduced in House (01/15/2025)

Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

This bill 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 on the west lawn of the Capitol on or before July 4, 2026. Congressional leadership will determine the contents of the time capsule, and the time capsule shall be sealed until July 4, 2276.

Text (3)

Engrossed in House (EH)

119 HR 469 EH: Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act U.S. House of Representatives text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS1st Session H. R. 469

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 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.

1.Short TitleThis Act may be cited as the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act.

2.Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule (a)Creation by Architect of the CapitolThe 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 leadershipThe 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)SpecificationsThe 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)ConsultationIn 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 ArchitectThe 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)UnsealingThe 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.Kevin F. McCumber,Clerk.

Introduced in House (IH)

119 HR 469 IH: Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-01-15 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 469IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 15, 2025Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Aderholt) introduced the following bill; which was 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 concernedA BILLTo provide for the creation of a Congressional time capsule in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United States, and for other purposes.1.Short TitleThis Act may be cited as the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act.2.Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule(a)Creation by Architect of the CapitolThe 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 leadershipThe 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)SpecificationsThe 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)ConsultationIn 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 ArchitectThe 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)UnsealingThe 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.

Referred in Senate (RFS)

119 HR 469 : Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-02-27 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IIB119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 469IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 27, 2025Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and AdministrationAN ACTTo provide for the creation of a Congressional time capsule in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United States, and for other purposes.1.Short TitleThis Act may be cited as the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act.2.Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule(a)Creation by Architect of the CapitolThe 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 leadershipThe 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)SpecificationsThe 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)ConsultationIn 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 ArchitectThe 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)UnsealingThe 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.Kevin F. McCumber,Clerk.

The bill's own words, from our database (synced from the GPO BILLS XML); paragraph breaks added at the bill's section boundaries, nothing else changed.

All Actions (12)

DateChamberAll Actions
01/15/2025Library of CongressIntroduced in House
01/15/2025Library of CongressIntroduced in House
01/15/2025House floor actionsReferred 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.
01/15/2025House floor actionsReferred 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.
01/16/2025House committee actionsReferred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
02/26/2025House floor actionsMr. Steil moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
02/26/2025House floor actionsConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H855-857)
02/26/2025House floor actionsDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 469.
02/26/2025Library of CongressPassed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H855-856)
02/26/2025House floor actionsOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H855-856)
02/26/2025House floor actionsMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
02/27/2025SenateReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Titles (6)

Title TypeTitle
Display TitleSemiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
Official Title as IntroducedTo provide for the creation of a Congressional time capsule in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United States, and for other purposes.
Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill textTo provide for the creation of a Congressional time capsule in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United States, and for other purposes.
Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill textSemiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
Short Title(s) as Passed HouseSemiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
Short Title(s) as IntroducedSemiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

Amendments (0)

There are no amendments to this bill.

Cosponsors (26)

* = Original cosponsor

Committees (3)

CommitteeActivity
Senate - Rules and Administration Committee02/27/2025 Referred To
House - Transportation and Infrastructure Committee01/15/2025 Referred To
House - Committee on House Administration01/15/2025 Referred To

Related Bills (1)

Subjects (4)

Policy Area: Congress

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