Directs the Architect of the Capitol to create a congressional time capsule for the nation's 250th anniversary, to be buried in the Capitol Visitor Center and kept sealed until July 4, 2276.

Official title: Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

Outcome Public Law 119-79

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

House

Received 02-FEB-2026

Passed 09-FEB-2026

Senate

Introduced 27-JAN-2026

President

Presented 12-FEB-2026

Signed 18-FEB-2026

Became law 18-FEB-2026

Key points

Requires the Architect of the Capitol to prepare the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule and bury it in the Capitol Visitor Center on or before July 4, 2026.
Has the Speaker, the minority leader of the House, the Senate majority leader, and the Senate minority leader jointly choose the contents, which must include a single joint letter and materials with low risk of degrading.
Limits the capsule to 50 by 32 by 48 inches and has the Architect install a plaque describing it.
Keeps the capsule sealed until July 4, 2276, when the Speaker and Senate Majority Leader present it to the 244th Congress.

AI-generated from the Public Law text of 19-FEB-2026 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

Current. The Congressional Research Service's summary covers the bill's latest wording (Public Law, 18-FEB-2026).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov

Committee referrals (0)

No committee referrals on file.

Policy area

Congress

Sponsor Thomas Tillis (R-NC) Cosponsors · 3

■ 2 D■ 1 R

2 Democrats

1 Republican

congress.gov page Public Law (19-FEB-2026) Engrossed in Senate (27-JAN-2026) Considered and Passed Senate (27-JAN-2026) Enrolled Bill