Congress·In Committee·H.R. 6243

Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

U.S. 250th Anniversary: Congressional Time Capsule

Nov 21, 2025·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Part of: Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

This bill is one vehicle in a longer effort. See the full story across every version.View effort →

StalledNext up: A house committeeNo action in 8 months

This bill is currently in a House subcommittee and has not moved since November 21, 2025. A House committee must take the next step to consider the proposal, but no action has occurred for eight months. The bill is considered stalled because it has not received a vote or further attention.

Legislative Progress

House

No action since November 2025

Senate

President

Law

How we got here

This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.

Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 6394 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 6394 (118th) →

Key Points

Congress is planning to create a special time capsule to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. This project is led by Representative Watson Coleman and a group of bipartisan sponsors.
The capsule will be buried at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., and is scheduled to stay sealed for 250 years. It is not meant to be opened until July 4, 2276.
Leaders from both the House and Senate will choose what goes inside. The contents must include a joint letter from leadership and special commemorative coins made by the U.S. Treasury.
To make sure the items last for centuries, the law requires that everything inside be made of materials like metal or archival paper that will not rot or break down over time.
The Architect of the Capitol will be responsible for building the capsule and installing a plaque at the site so future generations know what is buried there and when to open it.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

3 milestones3 actions

Nov 21, 2025House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Nov 20, 2025House

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.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Nov 20, 2025

Introduced in House

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

News

Axiosunknown

What our states are adding to America's Time Capsule

news_articleunknown

The Rival Groups Waging an Expensive Battle Over America's 250th

news_articleunknown

'America's Time Capsule' will bury artifacts underground for 250 years

No votes recorded for this bill yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

Bill NumberHR 6243

Congress119th Congress

ChamberHouse of Representatives

Latest ActionReferred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(11)

D: 4R: 7

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.