This concurrent resolution directs both the House of Representatives and the Senate to convene a joint session of Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, July 2, 2026. The primary purpose of this special session is to commemorate the semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary , of the Declaration of Independence. The session is specifically designated to occur at Independence National Historical Park , recognizing Philadelphia's profound historical significance. The city served as the meeting place for the Continental Congresses, where the Declaration of Independence was approved at Independence Hall on July 4, 1776, officially severing ties with the British Crown. This resolution highlights Philadelphia's role as the nation's birthplace and acknowledges that Congress has only met outside Washington, D.C., on two prior occasions since 1800, both for significant historical commemorations.