A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Became Public Law No: 119-79.
Became law
Passed both chambers and was signed by the President, or became law without a signature.
Nothing more in Congress: it is law. When it takes effect depends on the dates written into it — some parts start at once, others a year or more later.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Passed House voice vote
- To President
- Became Law
No one's position on it was recorded: the Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote), and the House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together).
What this bill would do
This Act establishes the "Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule" to commemorate the United States semiquincentennial. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for creating the capsule and preparing it to be sealed and buried in the Capitol Visitor Center. Congressional leadership will jointly decide what items are included, which must be made of durable materials like metal or archival paper. The capsule must be buried on or before July 4th, 2026. It will remain sealed until July 4th, 2276. At that time, the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader will present it to the 244th Congress.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +1
Would children be better off under this?
The act preserves a historical record that will be available to future generations including children.
- Scored +1
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
The act preserves a historical record that will be available to future generations including young adults.
- Scored +1
Would people in middle age be better off under this?
The act preserves a historical record that will be available to future generations including middle-aged adults.
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 the Semiquincentennial: The bill creates a special way to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States through the creation of a time capsule (Section 2(a)).
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Preservation of History: By requiring items to be made of materials with a low risk of degrading, such as metal or archival paper, the bill ensures the contents can be preserved for the future (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Long-term Historical Record: The time capsule is intended to be unsealed in the year 2276, allowing future generations to receive a joint letter and other items determined by current leadership (Section 2(b) and Section 2(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the text of this bill.
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 act preserves a historical record that will be available to future generations including children. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — The act preserves a historical record that will be available to future generations including middle-aged adults. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The act preserves a historical record that will be available to future generations including seniors. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The time capsule is to be buried at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The act preserves a historical record that will be available to future generations including young adults.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill involves the burial of a time capsule at the Capitol Visitor Center which constitutes a managed site.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill creates a historical record intended to be unsealed by future Congresses to provide insight into the current era.
- Public Law (2/19/2026)
The text as it became law
- Enrolled Bill
The final version, on its way to the President
- 2/18/2026
- Signed by President.
- Became Public Law No: 119-79.
- 2/12/2026
- Presented to President.
- 2/9/2026
- 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 H2046-2047)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3705.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2046-2048)
- Mrs. Bice moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2/2/2026
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 1/27/2026
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S298; text: CR S298)
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire