[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 133 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.J.Res.133

                     One Hundred Nineteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,
         the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-five


                            Joint Resolution


 
  Requesting the Secretary of the Interior to authorize unique and one-
 time arrangements for displays on the National Mall and the Washington 
Monument during the period beginning on December 31, 2025, and ending on 
                            January 5, 2026.

Whereas the Second Continental Congress unanimously agreed to adopt the 
  Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in which the Second 
  Continental Congress declared a complete break with Britain and the 
  king and claimed the powers of an independent country;

Whereas the founding of the United States represented a historic world 
  event that has improved the lives of the people of the United States 
  and the people of other nations in profound ways for centuries;

Whereas the ideas of the founding fathers, including representative 
  government, guaranteed rights, and national sovereignty, inspire all 
  people of the United States to this day;

Whereas, on July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the independence and 
  founding of the United States will be commemorated and celebrated;

Whereas Congress enacted the United States Semiquincentennial 
  Commission Act of 2016 (36 U.S.C. note prec. 101; Public Law 114-196) 
  to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the 
  history of the United States leading up to the 250th anniversary of 
  the founding of the United States;

Whereas the United States Semiquincentennial Commission has planned, 
  coordinated, and inspired celebrations of the 250th anniversary 
  across the United States to mark the occasion;

Whereas New Year's Eve in 2025 marks the boundary between the 249th and 
  250th year of the United States, will bring the people of the United 
  States together, and will be a fitting date to initiate celebrations 
  of the 250th anniversary of the United States in earnest;

Whereas Congress explored lighting the Washington Monument and other 
  capital monuments at night during calendar year 1976 to celebrate the 
  bicentennial of the United States;

Whereas the National Mall hosted the 50th anniversary commemoration of 
  the Apollo 11 lunar landing in 2019, which included the display of 
  NASA and Smithsonian artifacts on the National Mall for 5 days and 
  concluded each night with an inspiring video program that projected 
  footage from the Apollo 11 program on the Washington Monument;

Whereas the commemoration of the Apollo 11 lunar landing was attended 
  by over 500,000 people from all over the United States who gathered 
  over a period of 5 days to celebrate the historic achievements of the 
  Apollo program and watched the video program centered on the 
  Washington Monument;

Whereas hundreds of thousands of people of the United States visit 
  Washington, DC, each holiday season and attend outdoor exhibits;

Whereas Washington, DC, is uniquely suitable to host the people of the 
  United States for inaugural United States semiquincentennial 
  festivities; and

Whereas the Washington Monument is central to the Washington, DC, 
  landscape and commemorates one of the most prominent figures in the 
  founding of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress--
        (1) requests the Secretary of the Interior to authorize unique 
    and one-time arrangements for the display of United States 
    semiquincentennial materials and other significant artifacts, 
    digital content, film footage, and associated audio and imagery in 
    and around the vicinity of the National Mall, including projected 
    onto the surface of the Washington Monument for 5 nights of public 
    display, during the period beginning on December 31, 2025, and 
    ending on January 5, 2026; and
        (2) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the House of 
    Representatives transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
            (A) the Secretary of the Interior; and
            (B) the Chair of the United States Semiquincentennial 
        Commission.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.