Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

The Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act would direct the Architect of the Capitol to create and bury a time capsule on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol on or before July 4, 2026. This time capsule would honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Congressional leadership would decide what items to include in the capsule, which would then be sealed and remain closed until July 4, 2276—exactly 250 years after its burial.

For everyday citizens, this bill represents a symbolic gesture connecting current generations to America's founding and to future Americans 250 years from now. The time capsule would serve as a historical record of what Congress and the nation considered important enough to preserve for the distant future. It would be a physical monument on one of America's most iconic buildings, visible to the millions of visitors who tour the Capitol grounds each year.

The bill has already passed the House of Representatives and is currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. If approved by the Senate, the time capsule would be created and buried by the nation's 250th birthday in 2026. This is largely a ceremonial measure with no direct financial or regulatory impact on citizens' daily lives, though it would use federal resources and Capitol grounds for the project.