S3705
Signed into law
Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
- Federal
- Senate
- Introduced Jan 27, 2026
- Session 119
Bill Text
Version ENRThis Act may be cited as the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act.
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).
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).
The contents of the Time Capsule shall include—
a single, joint letter from the offices described in paragraph (1); and
any other item that the offices described in paragraph (1) jointly determine appropriate.
Any item included in the Time Capsule under subparagraph (A)—
shall be made of materials that pose a low risk of degrading, such as metal or archival paper; and
shall not be made of any organic or inorganic material that poses a high risk of degrading.
The Time Capsule shall be not more than 50 inches wide, 32 inches deep, and 48 inches high.
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.
The Architect of the Capitol shall—
prepare the Time Capsule to be sealed and buried in the Capitol Visitor Center, at a location specified by the Architect, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, 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
install a plaque to provide such information about the Time Capsule as the Architect, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, considers appropriate.
The Time Capsule shall be sealed until July 4th, 2276, on which date the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader of the Senate shall present the Time Capsule to the 244th Congress, and such Congress shall determine how the contents within should be preserved or used.
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).
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).
The contents of the Time Capsule shall include—
a single, joint letter from the offices described in paragraph (1); and
any other item that the offices described in paragraph (1) jointly determine appropriate.
Any item included in the Time Capsule under subparagraph (A)—
shall be made of materials that pose a low risk of degrading, such as metal or archival paper; and
shall not be made of any organic or inorganic material that poses a high risk of degrading.
The Time Capsule shall be not more than 50 inches wide, 32 inches deep, and 48 inches high.
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.
The Architect of the Capitol shall—
prepare the Time Capsule to be sealed and buried in the Capitol Visitor Center, at a location specified by the Architect, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, 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
install a plaque to provide such information about the Time Capsule as the Architect, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, considers appropriate.
The Time Capsule shall be sealed until July 4th, 2276, on which date the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader of the Senate shall present the Time Capsule to the 244th Congress, and such Congress shall determine how the contents within should be preserved or used.
Legislative Timeline
17 actions-
Signed by President.
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Signed by President.
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Became Public Law No: 119-79.
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Became Public Law No: 119-79.
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Presented to President.
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Presented to President.
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Mrs. Bice moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
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Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2046-2048)
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3705.
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Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)
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On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)
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Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
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Received in the House.
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Held at the desk.
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Introduced in Senate
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Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
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Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S298; text: CR S298)