I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6243 
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 20, 2025 
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN (for herself, Mr. ADERHOLT, Ms. SALAZAR, and Mr. 
EVANS of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subse-
quently 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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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’’. 
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SEC. 2. SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL CONGRESSIONAL TIME CAP-
SULE. 
(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 LEAD-
ERSHIP.—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 con-
tents of the Time Capsule, taking into account the 
requirements of paragraph (2). 
(2) CONTENTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The contents of the 
Time Capsule shall include— 
(i) a single, joint letter from the of-
fices described in paragraph (1); 
(ii) coins minted by the Secretary of 
the Treasury in commemoration of the 
semiquincentennial anniversary of the es-
tablishment of the United States; and 
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(iii) any other item that the offices 
described in paragraph (1) jointly deter-
mine appropriate. 
(B) LIMITATIONS.—Any item included in 
the Time Capsule under subparagraph (A)— 
(i) shall be made of materials that 
pose a low risk of degrading, such as metal 
or archival paper; and 
(ii) shall not be made of any organic 
or inorganic material that poses a high 
risk of degrading. 
(3) SIZE.—The Time Capsule shall be not more 
than 50 inches wide, 32 inches deep, and 48 inches 
high. 
(4) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the offices described in paragraph (1) may 
consult with the Architect of the Capitol, the Sec-
retary of the Smithsonian Institution, and such 
other entities of the Federal Government as the of-
fices consider appropriate. 
(c) DUTIES OF ARCHITECT.—The Architect of the 
Capitol shall— 
(1) prepare the Time Capsule to be sealed and 
buried in the Capitol Visitor Center, at a location 
specified by the Architect, with the approval of the 
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Committee on Rules and Administration of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on House Administration of 
the House of Representatives, on or before July 4th, 
2026, at a time which would permit individuals at-
tending this event to also attend the burial of a time 
capsule in Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania, 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, with the 
approval of the Committee on Rules and Administra-
tion of the Senate and the Committee on House Ad-
ministration of the House of Representatives, con-
siders 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. 
Æ 
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