    [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 2025)]
    [House]
    [Pages H855-H857]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                                  {time}  1545
               SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL CONGRESSIONAL TIME CAPSULE ACT

      Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
    bill (H.R. 469) to provide for the creation of a Congressional time
    capsule in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United
    States, and for other purposes.
      The Clerk read the title of the bill.
      The text of the bill is as follows:

                                    H.R. 469

           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
         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,

    [[Page H856]]

         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. Madam 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.
      The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
    gentleman from Wisconsin?
      There was no objection.
      Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
      Madam Speaker, today, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 469, the
    Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act.
      This nonpartisan 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.
      Amongst our toughest challenges of the day, this legislation reminds
    us that we can all work together. The contents of the capsule will be
    selected by the Speaker of the House, House minority leader, and the
    majority and minority leaders in the United States Senate. Maybe we can
    even ask Speaker Johnson to include a pair of his glasses.
      The capsule will remain sealed until July 2, 2276, the Nation's 500th
    anniversary.
      The gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) introduced H.R.
    469 as a Member of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission with
    an additional 54 cosponsors.
      The Architect of the Capitol provided technical input to the
    Commission and will work with the congressional leadership to implement
    the capsule.
      Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have worked with Ranking Member Morelle
    on these efforts. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 469,
    and I reserve the balance of my time.
      Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
      Mr. Speaker, I will begin by thanking my friend and colleague, the
    chair of the Committee on House Administration, Chairman Steil, for his
    leadership, his friendship, and for helping us get this bill to the
    floor.
      Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 469. This bipartisan
    legislation 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.
      As my colleague and friend has indicated, the items in the capsule
    will be determined by bipartisan, bicameral congressional leaders. It
    will include written materials relating to the anniversary,
    representations of notable legislative and institutional milestones,
    and a message from this Congress to future colleagues in the 244th
    Congress. It seems remarkable.
      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 and remains committed to fulfilling the ideals set forth in the
    Declaration of Independence 250 years ago.
      As we navigate a time of deep division, partisanship, and growing
    threats to the values that sustain our democracy, this anniversary
    serves as a reminder to our shared responsibility to uphold the values
    of liberty and equality championed by our Founders.
      I extend my thanks to the Semiquincentennial Commission for its
    leadership in planning for this momentous occasion, and I particularly
    commend my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Watson Coleman, for her
    introduction of this measure.
      I also acknowledge the service of a fellow New Yorker, former
    Representative Joseph Crowley, who has lent his time and talents to the
    work of the Commission, as well.
      I look forward to seeing the items chosen for the time capsule, and I
    commend my colleagues to recommend that they support this measure.
      Mr. Speaker, I note that, last year on the floor, when we passed the
    bill in the House, I committed to being here when the capsule is
    opened, so I hope we pass it this year because I am not getting any
    younger. It is going to be hard to hold on that long, but I am
    committed to doing it.
      Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I
    reserve the balance of my time.
      Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
      Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
    New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman), who has had the leadership to bring
    this bill to the floor and who will speak on the measure.
      Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank our chairman for his work
    on this bill.
      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. It is work that
    continues to this day. As we reflect upon the last 250 years of
    progress toward these ideals, we must impart the lessons that we have
    learned to future generations.
      As a cofounder and co-chair of the America 250 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 will authorize, as we have heard, the Architect of the
    Capitol to create a time capsule and have it buried on the West Lawn,
    to remain sealed until July 4, 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 when it is opened, but an old Greek
    proverb states: ``A society grows great when the old plant trees whose
    shade they know they shall never sit in.''
      The 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.
      This bill passed last Congress, and I certainly look forward to its
    passage again today. I am honored to be able to speak to this piece of
    legislation today.
      Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of our colleagues to support it, and I
    yield back the balance of my time.
      Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the
    balance of my time.
      Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
    close.
      Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that we are able to pass both of these
    bills, hopefully unanimously. I think that

    [[Page H857]]

    shows our work together on this committee on two important pieces of
    really remembering our legacy and our history. Hopefully this helps us
    to keep that in mind as we continue to navigate these difficult waters
    and, hopefully to our posterity, that they will remember these moments
    of people coming together to honor our Founders and to honor our
    future.
      Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this
    legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
      Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the
    purpose of closing.
      Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Morelle), the
    ranking member on the Committee on House Administration, for his work.
      The gentleman correctly noted that we are in challenging times as we
    face difficult national issues. As we reflect back in 2 years, we will
    have a celebration of 250 years of the greatest country in the world.
      This time capsule, when viewed 250 years from now in 2276, may it be
    a reflection that, at the midpoint then, which will be today, we
    navigated these challenges that we faced with great courage and great
    vigor.
      Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's work and support on both
    pieces of legislation today, and I encourage my colleagues to vote in
    favor of H.R. 469.
      Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
      The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ezell). 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. 469.
      The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
    rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
      A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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