I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION 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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 13, 2023 

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN (for herself, Ms. SALAZAR, Mr. EVANS, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mrs. MCCLAIN, Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. PAPPAS, Mrs. 

TRAHAN, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. NEHLS, Mr. DAVIS of North 

Carolina, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Ms. TITUS, Mr. TONKO, Mr. 

GOTTHEIMER, Mr. KEAN of New Jersey, and Mr. LAWLER) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To provide for the creation of a Congressional time capsule 

in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the 

United States, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Semiquincentennial 

5 Congressional Time Capsule Act’’. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HR 6394 IH

1 SEC. 2. SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL CONGRESSIONAL TIME CAP2 SULE. 

3 (a) CREATION BY ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL.— 

4 The Architect of the Capitol shall create a Congressional 

5 time capsule, to be known as the ‘‘Semiquincentennial 

6 Congressional Time Capsule’’ (in this Act referred to as 

7 the ‘‘Time Capsule’’). 

8 (b) CONTENTS.— 

9 (1) DETERMINATION BY CONGRESSIONAL LEAD10 ERSHIP.—The Office of the Speaker of the House of 

11 Representatives, Office of the Minority Leader of the 

12 House of Representatives, Office of the Majority 

13 Leader of the Senate, and Office of the Minority 

14 Leader of the Senate shall jointly determine the con15 tents of the Time Capsule, taking into account the 

16 requirements of paragraph (2). 

17 (2) SPECIFICATIONS.—The contents of the 

18 Time Capsule shall include— 

19 (A) a representative portion of all books, 

20 manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, 

21 memorabilia, relics, and other materials relating 

22 to the United States Semiquincentennial; 

23 (B) copies or representations of important 

24 legislative and institutional milestones of Con25 gress during the time before the Time Capsule 

26 is buried; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HR 6394 IH

1 (C) a message from Congress to the future 

2 Congress when the Time Capsule will be 

3 opened; and 

4 (D) such other content as the offices de5 scribed in paragraph (1) consider appropriate. 

6 (3) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this sub7 section, the offices described in paragraph (1) may 

8 consult with the Architect of the Capitol, the Sec9 retary of the Smithsonian Institution, and such 

10 other entities of the Federal Government as the of11 fices consider appropriate. 

12 (c) DUTIES OF ARCHITECT.—The Architect of the 

13 Capitol shall— 

14 (1) prepare the Time Capsule to be sealed and 

15 buried on the West Lawn of the Capitol, at a loca16 tion specified by the Architect, on or before July 

17 4th, 2026, at a time which would permit individuals 

18 attending this event to also attend the burial of a 

19 time capsule in Independence Mall in Philadelphia, 

20 Pennsylvania, under section 7(f)(1) of the United 

21 States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 

22 (36 U.S.C. 101 note prec.); and 

23 (2) install a plaque to provide such information 

24 about the Time Capsule as the Architect considers 

25 appropriate. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HR 6394 IH

1 (d) UNSEALING.—The Time Capsule shall be sealed 

2 until July 4th, 2276, on which date the Speaker of the 

3 House of Representatives shall present the Time Capsule 

4 to the 244th Congress, and such Congress shall determine 

5 how the contents within should be preserved or used. 

6 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

7 are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 

8 necessary to carry out this Act, and any amounts so ap9 propriated shall remain available until expended. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB