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Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

USA119th CongressS-3705| Senate 
| Updated: 2/18/2026
Thomas Tillis

Thomas Tillis

Republican Senator

North Carolina

Cosponsors (3)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Chuck Grassley (Republican)
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation mandates the creation of a Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule by the Architect of the Capitol to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. The contents will be jointly determined by the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, and must include a joint letter from these offices. All items placed within the capsule must be made of durable materials that pose a low risk of degradation, such as metal or archival paper, and cannot exceed specified dimensions. The Architect of the Capitol will prepare the capsule for sealing and burial in the Capitol Visitor Center on or before July 4, 2026 , with the location requiring approval from relevant congressional committees. The time capsule is designed to remain sealed for 250 years, until July 4, 2276 . On that date, the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate will present it to the 244th Congress, which will then determine how to preserve or use its historical contents.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3293
Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
Feb 27, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-469
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S298; text: CR S298)
Jan 27, 2026
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Feb 2, 2026
Received in the House.
Feb 2, 2026
Held at the desk.
Feb 9, 2026
Mrs. Bice moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Feb 9, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2046-2048)
Feb 9, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3705.
Feb 9, 2026
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)
Feb 9, 2026
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Feb 9, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)
Feb 9, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 12, 2026
Presented to President.
Feb 18, 2026
Signed by President.
Feb 18, 2026
Became Public Law No: 119-79.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3293
    Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act


  • February 27, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-469
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.


  • January 27, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 27, 2026
    Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S298; text: CR S298)


  • January 27, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • February 2, 2026
    Received in the House.


  • February 2, 2026
    Held at the desk.


  • February 9, 2026
    Mrs. Bice moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • February 9, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2046-2048)


  • February 9, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3705.


  • February 9, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)


  • February 9, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.


  • February 9, 2026
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)


  • February 9, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • February 12, 2026
    Presented to President.


  • February 18, 2026
    Signed by President.


  • February 18, 2026
    Became Public Law No: 119-79.

Congress

Related Bills

  • HR 119-6243: Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
Congressional leadershipHistorical and cultural resourcesU.S. CapitolU.S. history

Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

USA119th CongressS-3705| Senate 
| Updated: 2/18/2026
This legislation mandates the creation of a Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule by the Architect of the Capitol to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. The contents will be jointly determined by the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, and must include a joint letter from these offices. All items placed within the capsule must be made of durable materials that pose a low risk of degradation, such as metal or archival paper, and cannot exceed specified dimensions. The Architect of the Capitol will prepare the capsule for sealing and burial in the Capitol Visitor Center on or before July 4, 2026 , with the location requiring approval from relevant congressional committees. The time capsule is designed to remain sealed for 250 years, until July 4, 2276 . On that date, the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate will present it to the 244th Congress, which will then determine how to preserve or use its historical contents.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3293
Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
Feb 27, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-469
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S298; text: CR S298)
Jan 27, 2026
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Feb 2, 2026
Received in the House.
Feb 2, 2026
Held at the desk.
Feb 9, 2026
Mrs. Bice moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Feb 9, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2046-2048)
Feb 9, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3705.
Feb 9, 2026
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)
Feb 9, 2026
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Feb 9, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)
Feb 9, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 12, 2026
Presented to President.
Feb 18, 2026
Signed by President.
Feb 18, 2026
Became Public Law No: 119-79.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3293
    Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act


  • February 27, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-469
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.


  • January 27, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 27, 2026
    Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S298; text: CR S298)


  • January 27, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • February 2, 2026
    Received in the House.


  • February 2, 2026
    Held at the desk.


  • February 9, 2026
    Mrs. Bice moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • February 9, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2046-2048)


  • February 9, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3705.


  • February 9, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)


  • February 9, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.


  • February 9, 2026
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)


  • February 9, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • February 12, 2026
    Presented to President.


  • February 18, 2026
    Signed by President.


  • February 18, 2026
    Became Public Law No: 119-79.
Thomas Tillis

Thomas Tillis

Republican Senator

North Carolina

Cosponsors (3)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Chuck Grassley (Republican)

Congress

Related Bills

  • HR 119-6243: Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional leadershipHistorical and cultural resourcesU.S. CapitolU.S. history