Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)
Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
A Democratic bill with 14 Republican cosponsors · See all 26 cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act," directs the Architect of the Capitol to create a Congressional time capsule. The capsule is intended to commemorate the semiquincentennial of the United States. Congressional leadership will jointly decide what items go into the capsule, including legislative milestones and a message to future members of Congress. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for preparing and burying the capsule on the West Lawn of the Capitol by July 4th, 2026. The capsule is to remain sealed until July 4th, 2276. At that time, the Speaker of the House will present the contents to the 244th Congress for preservation or use.
Yes
- Scored +2
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill preserves legislative and institutional milestones for future generations through a time capsule.
- Scored +1
Would children be better off under this?
The bill creates a historical record that will be preserved for many future generations.
- Scored +1
Would students be better off under this?
The preservation of historical documents and legislative milestones provides future educational value.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Commemoration of National History: The creation of a time capsule serves to commemorate the United States Semiqucentennial through the inclusion of books, manuscripts, memorabilia, and relics (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Preservation of Legislative Milestones: The capsule will include copies or representations of important legislative and institutional milestones of Congress, preserving history for future generations (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
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Intergenerational Communication: The bill allows for a message to be sent from the current Congress to the future Congress that will eventually open the capsule (Section 2(b)(2)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill creates a historical record that will be preserved for many future generations. Would students be better off under this? — The preservation of historical documents and legislative milestones provides future educational value.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill preserves legislative and institutional milestones for future generations through a time capsule.
- 2/27/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- 2/26/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H855-856)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H855-856)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 469.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H855-857)
- Mr. Steil moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2/21/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 1/31/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/28/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/24/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/23/2025
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- 1/21/2025
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- 1/16/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- 1/15/2025
- 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.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Robert AderholtRepublican · Alabama
Brendan BoyleDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Jim CostaDemocrat · California
Emanuel CleaverDemocrat · Missouri
Eric CrawfordRepublican · Arkansas
Juan CiscomaniRepublican · Arizona
Donald DavisDemocrat · North Carolina
Dwight EvansDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Charles FleischmannRepublican · Tennessee
Lizzie FletcherDemocrat · Texas
Chrissy HoulahanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Thomas KeanRepublican · New Jersey
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
James McGovernDemocrat · Massachusetts
Nicole MalliotakisRepublican · New York
Lisa McClainRepublican · Michigan
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Burgess OwensRepublican · Utah
Maria SalazarRepublican · Florida
Glenn ThompsonRepublican · Pennsylvania
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Paul TonkoDemocrat · New York
Ritchie TorresDemocrat · New York
Jefferson Van DrewRepublican · New Jersey
Joe WilsonRepublican · South Carolina
Robert WittmanRepublican · Virginia