H.R. 6243, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act, directs the Architect of the Capitol to create and bury a time capsule in the Capitol Visitor Center by July 4, 2026, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. The time capsule's contents will be jointly determined by the Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader, and must include a joint letter from these offices, commemorative coins from the Treasury, and other items made of durable materials like metal or archival paper that won't degrade over time. The capsule has specific size limits (no more than 50 inches wide, 32 inches deep, and 48 inches high) and will be accompanied by a plaque with information about its contents. The time capsule will remain sealed until July 4, 2276, when it will be presented to Congress 250 years later for future lawmakers to decide how its contents should be preserved or displayed. The bill does not appear to authorize new federal spending, as it assigns the task to existing Capitol staff.
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