Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

Bill: 118-s-3293
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2023-11-14
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional leadership

Historical and cultural resources

U.S. Capitol

U.S. history
Latest action: action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-11-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Architect of the Capitol to create a congressional time capsule in honor of the 250<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to be buried on the west lawn of the Capitol on or before July 4, 2026. Congressional leadership will determine the contents of the time capsule, and the time capsule shall be sealed until July 4, 2276.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3293 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 14 (legislative day, November 13), 2023 Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mr. Tillis , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Grassley , Mr. Casey , and Mr. Rounds ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration 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. Short title This Act may be cited as the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act . 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, 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. (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act, and any amounts so appropriated shall remain available until expended.