United States 119th Congress ✓ Enacted · P.L. 119-79 Bipartisan · 2 R · 2 D cosponsors

S 3705 — Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

Last action — Became Public Law No: 119-79.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 27, 2026. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (2 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule ActThis act requires the Architect of the Capitol to create a congressional time capsule in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to be buried in the Capitol Visitor Center on or before July 4, 2026.The time capsule shall contain a joint letter from congressional leadership (the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate) and such other contents as they shall determine. The act directs the Architect of the Capitol to also install a plaque about the time capsule, subject to the approval of the Committee on House Administration of the House and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.The time capsule shall be sealed until July 4, 2276. On that date, the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader shall present the time capsule to the 244th Congress.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

45 added · 48 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment adds a citation for the bill as the "Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act" and specifies the duties of the Architect of the Capitol in preparing the Time Capsule. It also maintains that the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate will jointly determine the contents, which should be made of low-risk degrading materials and conform to specific size requirements. These details clarify the responsibilities and requirements related to the Time Capsule project.

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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S.
[119th Congress Public Law 79] [From the U.S.
Government Publishing Office] [S.
Government Publishing Office] [[Page 140 STAT.
3705 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
748]] Public Law 119-79 119th Congress An Act To provide for the creation of a congressional time capsule in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United States, and for other purposes.
3705 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To provide for the creation of a congressional time capsule in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United States, and for other purposes.
<<NOTE:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
Feb.
18, 2026 - [S.
3705]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE:
Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act.
36 USC note prec.
101.>> SECTION 1.
(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.
(c) <<NOTE:
Approvals.>> Duties of Architect.--The Architect of the Capitol shall-- [[Page 140 STAT.
749]] (1) <<NOTE:
Deadline.>> 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.
(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.
(d) <<NOTE:
Passed the Senate January 27, 2026.
Determination.>> 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.
Attest:
Approved February 18, 2026.
Secretary.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S.
119th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
3705:
3705 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To provide for the creation of a congressional time capsule in commemoration of the semiquincentennial of the United States, and for other purposes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol.
172 (2026):
Jan.
27, considered and passed Senate.
Feb.
9, considered and passed House.
<all>
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Action History

  1. Signed by President.

  2. Signed by President.

  3. Became Public Law No: 119-79.

  4. Became Public Law No: 119-79.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Mrs. Bice moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  8. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2046-2048)

  9. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3705.

  10. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)

  11. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2046-2047)

  12. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  13. Received in the House.

  14. Held at the desk.

  15. Introduced in Senate

  16. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  17. Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S298; text: CR S298)

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 543 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (543)

543 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does S 3705 do?
Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule ActThis act requires the Architect of the Capitol to create a congressional time capsule in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to be buried in the Capitol Visitor Center on or before July 4, 2026.The time capsule shall contain a joint letter from congressional leadership (the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate) and such other contents as they shall determine. The act directs the Architect of the Capitol to also install a plaque about the time capsule, subject to the approval of the Committee on House Administration of the House and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.The time capsule shall be sealed until July 4, 2276. On that date, the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader shall present the time capsule to the 244th Congress.
Who sponsors S 3705?
S 3705 is sponsored by Grassley, Chuck (Republican), Shaheen, Jeanne (Democratic), Padilla, Alex (Democratic), and Tillis, Thomas (Republican).
What is the current status of S 3705?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 27, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track S 3705?
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