119th Congress (2025-2026)

S 3705

Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

Law

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

Senate

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill directs the Architect of the Capitol to create a congressional time capsule, called the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Congressional leadership will determine the contents of the capsule, which must be made of durable materials and include a joint letter. The capsule will be sealed and not opened until July 4, 2276, when it will be presented to the future Congress.

Key provisions

The Architect of the Capitol will create the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule.
Congressional leadership will jointly determine the contents of the time capsule.
The time capsule must be made of durable materials like metal or archival paper.
The time capsule’s dimensions are limited to 50 inches wide, 32 inches deep, and 48 inches high.
The time capsule will be buried in the Capitol Visitor Center.
The capsule will be sealed until July 4, 2276.
The 244th Congress will determine how the contents will be preserved or used upon opening.
The Architect of the Capitol must install a plaque providing information about the capsule.

Who is affected

Congress
The Architect of the Capitol
The Smithsonian Institution
Future Congresses
The public

Notable changes

The time capsule will be opened 250 years after its creation.

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments in favor

Reasons to support this legislation.

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Arguments opposed

Reasons to oppose this legislation.

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Legislative history

2026-01-27Senate

Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S298; text: CR S298)

2026-01-27

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

2026-01-27

Introduced in Senate

2026-02-02House

Held at the desk.

Passage without roll call

The official record shows passage by unanimous consent or voice vote where no roll call was taken. No member-level tally is available for these steps, and the district map does not apply.

2/9/2026HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
2/9/2026Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
1/27/2026SenateUnanimous consent
Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S298; text: CR S298)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
1/27/2026Unanimous consent
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Passage without roll call

2/9/2026HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
2/9/2026Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
1/27/2026SenateUnanimous consent
Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S298; text: CR S298)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
1/27/2026Unanimous consent
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

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Jan 27, 2026XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 2d Session

S. 3705

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

A BILL

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 Title

This 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)Contents

(A)In general

The contents of the Time Capsule shall include—

(i)

a single, joint letter from the offices described in paragraph (1); and

(ii)

any other item that the offices described in paragraph (1) jointly determine appropriate.

(B)Limitations

Any item included in the Time Capsule under subparagraph (A)—

(i)

shall be made of materials that pose a low risk of degrading, such as metal or archival paper; and

(ii)shall not be made of any organic or inorganic material that poses a high risk of degrading.

(3)Size

The Time Capsule shall be not more than 50 inches wide, 32 inches deep, and 48 inches high.

(4)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 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

(2)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.

(d)UnsealingThe 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.

S 3705