Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
Floor Speech
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Mrs. BICE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3705) to provide for the creation of a congressional time capsule in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United States, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: S. 3705
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act''. SEC. 2. SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL CONGRESSIONAL TIME CAPSULE.
(a) Creation by Architect of the Capitol.--The Architect of the Capitol shall create a congressional time capsule, to be known as the ``Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Time Capsule'').
(b) Contents.--
(1) Determination by congressional leadership.--The Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Office of the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Office of the Majority Leader of the Senate, and Office of the Minority Leader of the Senate shall jointly determine the contents of the Time Capsule, taking into account the requirements of paragraph (2).
(2) Contents.--
(A) In general.--The contents of the Time Capsule shall include--
(i) a single, joint letter from the offices described in paragraph (1); and
(ii) any other item that the offices described in paragraph (1) jointly determine appropriate.
(B) Limitations.--Any item included in the Time Capsule under subparagraph (A)--
(i) shall be made of materials that pose a low risk of degrading, such as metal or archival paper; and
(ii) shall not be made of any organic or inorganic material that poses a high risk of degrading.
(3) Size.--The Time Capsule shall be not more than 50 inches wide, 32 inches deep, and 48 inches high.
(4) Consultation.--In carrying out this subsection, the offices described in paragraph (1) may consult with the Architect of the Capitol, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and such other entities of the Federal Government as the offices consider appropriate.
(c) Duties of Architect.--The Architect of the Capitol shall--
(1) prepare the Time Capsule to be sealed and buried in the Capitol Visitor Center, at a location specified by the Architect, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, on or before July 4th, 2026, at a time which would permit individuals attending this event to also attend the burial of a time capsule in Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under section 7(f)(1) of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 (36 U.S.C. 101 note prec.); and
(2) install a plaque to provide such information about the Time Capsule as the Architect, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, considers appropriate.
(d) Unsealing.--The Time Capsule shall be sealed until July 4th, 2276, on which date the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader of the Senate shall present the Time Capsule to the 244th Congress, and such Congress shall determine how the contents within should be preserved or used.
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Mrs. BICE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, today I urge my colleagues to support S. 3705, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act. This is the Senate companion to H.R. 6243, introduced by my colleagues, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, Robert Aderholt, Maria Salazar, and Dwight Evans.
This nonpartisan legislation would authorize the burial of a time capsule in the Capitol Visitor Center to mark the 250th anniversary of our Nation's independence.
This time capsule is one way that Congress will participate in the Nation's yearlong celebration of liberty and independence. Amidst our toughest challenges of the day, this legislation reminds us that we can all work together.
Under this bill, leaders from both parties will work alongside the Architect of the Capitol to compile the capsule's contents. This will include a letter from congressional leadership, books, manuscripts, relics, memorabilia, and more. I am optimistic that the contents of this capsule will reflect what makes this country great, as well as the challenges we faced during this time.
The capsule will remain sealed until July 4th, 2276, and the burial site will be marked by a plaque approved by the Committee on House Administration and the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.
I thank the ranking member, Mr. Morelle, for working with me on this effort.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mrs. BICE. Madam Speaker, I want to mention, my colleague, Mr. Morelle, referenced opening the capsule in 2276, and I, too, would love to see the contents, although I do wonder if our future colleagues will look at the contents and think: Why did they put books in here? That is because it may be a little technologically behind by the time it is opened.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), who is my fellow appropriator.
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Mrs. BICE. Madam Speaker, I could not have said it any better myself. I urge my colleagues to support S. 3705, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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