119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. J. RES. 133 
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 Janu-
ary 5, 2026. 
Whereas the Second Continental Congress unanimously 
agreed to adopt the Declaration of Independence on
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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 his-
toric world event that has improved the lives of the peo-
ple of the United States and the people of other nations 
in profound ways for centuries; 
Whereas the ideas of the founding fathers, including rep-
resentative 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 inde-
pendence and founding of the United States will be com-
memorated 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 his-
tory of the United States leading up to the 250th anni-
versary 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 be-
tween 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 Monu-
ment and other capital monuments at night during cal-
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endar year 1976 to celebrate the bicentennial of the 
United States; 
Whereas the National Mall hosted the 50th anniversary com-
memoration of the Apollo 11 lunar landing in 2019, 
which included the display of NASA and Smithsonian ar-
tifacts 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 Wash-
ington Monument; 
Whereas hundreds of thousands of people of the United 
States visit Washington, DC, each holiday season and at-
tend 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 Wash-
ington, 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 au-
thorize unique and one-time arrangements for the
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display of United States semiquincentennial mate-
rials and other significant artifacts, digital content, 
film footage, and associated audio and imagery in 
and around the vicinity of the National Mall, includ-
ing 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. 
Passed the House of Representatives November 18, 
2025. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. J. RES. 133 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
Requesting the Secretary of the Interior to author-
ize unique and one-time arrangements for dis-
plays on the National Mall and the Washington 
Monument during the period beginning on De-
cember 31, 2025, and ending on January 5, 
2026.