[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 186 (Monday, December 16, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H7154-H7156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL CONGRESSIONAL TIME CAPSULE ACT
Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 6394) to provide for the creation of a Congressional time capsule
in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United States, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6394
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Semiquincentennial
Congressional Time Capsule Act''.
SEC. 2. SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL CONGRESSIONAL TIME CAPSULE.
(a) Creation by Architect of the Capitol.--The Architect of
the Capitol shall create a Congressional time capsule, to be
[[Page H7155]]
known as the ``Semiquincentennial Congressional Time
Capsule'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Time Capsule'').
(b) Contents.--
(1) Determination by congressional leadership.--The 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) Specifications.--The contents of the Time Capsule shall
include--
(A) a representative portion of all books, manuscripts,
miscellaneous printed matter, memorabilia, relics, and other
materials relating to the United States Semiquincentennial;
(B) copies or representations of important legislative and
institutional milestones of Congress during the time before
the Time Capsule is buried;
(C) a message from Congress to the future Congress when the
Time Capsule will be opened; and
(D) such other content as the offices described in
paragraph (1) consider appropriate.
(3) 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 on the
West Lawn of the Capitol, at a location specified by the
Architect, 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 considers appropriate.
(d) Unsealing.--The Time Capsule shall be sealed until July
4th, 2276, on which date the Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall present the Time Capsule to the 244th
Congress, and such Congress shall determine how the contents
within should be preserved or used.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Steil) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Morelle)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
General Leave
Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill, H.R. 6394.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
{time} 1445
Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6394. This
bipartisan legislation would authorize a time capsule to be buried on
the Capitol grounds to mark the Nation's semiquincentennial.
America is turning 250 on July 4, 2026. This time capsule represents
one way that Congress will participate in the Nation's yearlong
celebration of democracy and freedom.
The contents of the capsule will be sealed by the Office of the
Speaker of the House, Office of the Minority Leader of the House, and
Offices of the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate.
The contents of the capsule will remain sealed until July 2, 2276,
the Nation's 500th anniversary.
Representative Watson Coleman introduced H.R. 6394 as a member of the
commission, together with an additional 54 cosponsors.
The Architect of the Capitol has provided technical input to the
commission and would work with the congressional leadership to
implement the capsule.
I am pleased to have Ranking Member Morelle's efforts and support on
this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this and vote in
favor of H.R. 6394.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6394. This bipartisan
legislation, as my colleague has indicated, would authorize the
Architect of the Capitol to bury a time capsule commemorating the 250th
anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July
4, 2026, to be opened on our Nation's 500th anniversary in the year
2276.
I will note parenthetically, one of my favorite lines in the musical
Hamilton says: ``Legacy. What is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a
garden you never get to see.'' I think this qualifies for that. I
suspect I won't be here at the opening of the time capsule.
Nonetheless, the items in the capsule will be determined by
bipartisan, bicameral congressional leaders and include written
materials relating to the anniversary, representations of notable
legislative and institutional milestones, and a message from this
Congress to our future colleagues in the 244th Congress.
The upcoming anniversary marks a powerful testament to the resilience
of the American experiment. Our Nation has faced countless tests to our
strength and unity, including a civil war, two world wars, natural
disasters, and more.
Yet, through each challenge, this country has stood strong and
remains committed to fulfilling the ideals set forth in the Declaration
of Independence nearly 250 years ago.
As we face new challenges in a time of deep division, partisanship,
and extremism, this anniversary serves as a reminder of our shared
responsibility to uphold the values of liberty and equality championed
by our Founding Fathers.
I extend my thanks to the United States Semiquincentennial Commission
for its leadership in planning for this momentous occasion. I
particularly commend my colleague and friend, Congresswoman Watson
Coleman, for her introduction of this measure.
I also acknowledge the service of my fellow New Yorker, former
Representative Joe Crowley, who has lent his time and efforts to the
work of the commission.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing the items chosen for the time
capsule and recommend my colleagues' support for this measure.
I thank my friend and colleague for putting the bill before to the
House and for his leadership in this regard.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Jersey
(Mrs. Watson Coleman).
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, the signing of the Declaration of
Independence on July 4, 1776, was an essential milestone in the
progress of all humanity toward a more fair, just, and democratic
society, work that continues to this day.
As we reflect on the last 250 years of progress toward those ideals,
we must impart the lessons that we have learned to future generations.
As cofounder and co-chair of the Congressional America250 Caucus along
with my co-chairs, Mr. Evans, Mr. Aderholt, and Ms. Salazar, it is an
honor to see this legislation come forward today as just one small part
of our Nation's 250th anniversary celebration.
This bill, as you know, authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to
create the time capsule and have it buried on the west lawn to remain
sealed until July 2276, the Nation's 500th anniversary.
The contents will include items that represent important legislation
and institutional milestones of Congress, a message from the 119th
Congress to the 244th Congress, and other items that reflect our
history.
No one here today will see it, as has been said, but to be redundant,
an old Greek proverb goes: ``A society grows great when old men plant
trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.''
This body does its best work when we don't seek fame or followers,
renown or retweets, but rather when we work so that distant generations
of Americans for whom our names will be mere footnotes will enjoy the
fruits of our work here today.
Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, again, I encourage support from my colleagues for this
bill.
I will use this moment, if I can, as these are likely the final bills
of our committee for the 118th Congress, to certainly thank my friend,
Mr. Steil, for his cooperation, his leadership, and his friendship
during the last 2 years.
I thank all the members of the committee and certainly all the
members of the staff on both sides of the aisle
[[Page H7156]]
who worked diligently each and every day. I know there is a lot of work
that goes on behind the scenes.
While we at times disagree, I think we work very well together in our
interests collectively as to advance the work of this great institution
and the support and service of the American people, and I thank the
gentleman for that.
To all of my colleagues and those listening, I wish them the very
happiest whatever their holiday tradition or faith tradition is. Merry
Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and to everyone, I wish them a very, very
healthy and happy New Year.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I echo my colleague's remarks. It is true, we don't
always agree on every policy issue of the day, but it is an honor to
work with him. As is shown by these five pieces of legislation, this is
a real opportunity for us to work together to move this institution and
this country ahead.
As noted by my colleague, this would not be possible without the
hardworking staff of both the majority and minority side, navigating
through thorny issues at times. I thank my colleague and all the
members of the committee as well as the staff for their hard work over
the course of this Congress to make sure that the important work of
this institution, but more importantly of the American people, is
getting done.
I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation before us, as
we have done with the previous four.
As my colleague jokingly said he does not suspect he will be here in
250 years when this capsule is opened in 2276. May the Record reflect I
know I won't be here in 250 years, but I do think those that are here
and open this capsule will be able to reflect back at the time we have
spent working on behalf of our country here.
Mr. Speaker, I support and urge its passage, and I yield back balance
of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Steil) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 6394, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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