IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 115 
Providing for a joint session of the Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 
on Thursday, July 2, 2026, in honor of the semiquincentennial of the 
Declaration of Independence. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 25, 2024 
Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. EVANS, Ms. 
SALAZAR, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. SCANLON, and Mr. THOMPSON 
of Pennsylvania) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Providing for a joint session of the Congress in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, in honor of 
the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independ-
ence. 
Whereas the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was founded 
in 1682; 
Whereas Philadelphia has become known as the Nation’s 
birthplace for the critical role it played in the founding 
of the United States of America; 
Whereas Philadelphia was the meeting place for the first 
Continental Congress, the second Continental Congress, 
and the Constitutional Convention; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:38 Jun 26, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC115.IH
HC115
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
•HCON 115 IH 
Whereas Philadelphia served as the capital of the United 
States from 1790–1800; 
Whereas, on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress 
approved the Declaration of Independence in Philadel-
phia, at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as 
Independence Hall; 
Whereas the Declaration of Independence officially severed 
the 13 colonies’ ties to the British Crown; 
Whereas Independence Hall is 1 of only 11 cultural World 
Heritage sites in the United States of America; 
Whereas Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, became the first World 
Heritage City in the United States of America; 
Whereas shortly after the conclusion of the Constitutional 
Convention, Benjamin Franklin proclaimed of the Rising 
Sun Armchair at Independence Hall, ‘‘I have often looked 
at that picture behind the president without being able 
to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now at length 
I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not 
a setting sun’’; 
Whereas across from Independence Hall stands the Liberty 
Bell, displaying the phrase ‘‘Proclaim Liberty Through-
out All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof’’; and 
Whereas, July 4, 2026, will serve as the semiquincentennial, 
or 250th anniversary, of the founding of the United 
States: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That, in honor of the semiquincentennial of 
the Declaration of Independence, the two Houses of the 
Congress shall assemble in a joint session at the Independ-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:38 Jun 26, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HC115.IH
HC115
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
•HCON 115 IH 
ence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsyl-
vania, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, for the purpose of com-
memorating the Declaration of Independence. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:38 Jun 26, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HC115.IH
HC115
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS