This part says a box will be filled and buried. Top leaders in Congress pick what goes in. The box goes under the Capitol Visitor Center. It stays shut until the year 2276.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Architect of the CapitolHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Architect of the Capitol shall create a congressional time capsule, to be known as the ``Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule''”
Section 2(a) directs the Architect of the Capitol to create a congressional time capsule and names it the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. The rest of the Act refers to it as the Time Capsule.
What the document actually says
“The Architect of the Capitol shall create a congressional time capsule, to be known as the ``Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule''”
That sentence, in plain words
The Architect of the Capitol must make a time capsule. The box gets a long name. The rest of the law just calls it the Time Capsule.
What this is about
The Architect of the Capitol is an officer. That officer takes care of the Capitol and its grounds. A time capsule is a box. It holds things saved for people far in the future.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: 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, Office of the Minority Leader of the SenateHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“shall jointly determine the contents of the Time Capsule, taking into account the requirements of paragraph (2)”
Section 2(b)(1) assigns the choice of contents to four offices acting together: the Speaker of the House, the Minority Leader of the House, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate. Their choice is to take account of the requirements set out in section 2(b)(2).
What the document actually says
“shall jointly determine the contents of the Time Capsule, taking into account the requirements of paragraph (2)”
That sentence, in plain words
The four offices must agree on what goes in the box. They also have to follow the rules in the next part.
What this is about
Four leaders share the job. Two lead the House and two lead the Senate. One of each pair is from each party. No office can fill the box alone.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: 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, Office of the Minority Leader of the SenateHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The contents of the Time Capsule shall include-- (i) a single, joint letter from the offices described in paragraph (1); and”
Section 2(b)(2)(A)(i) names the one item the Time Capsule must hold: a single joint letter from the four offices. It is the only content the Act specifies by name.
What the document actually says
“The contents of the Time Capsule shall include-- (i) a single, joint letter from the offices described in paragraph (1); and”
That sentence, in plain words
The box must hold one letter. All four offices sign that one letter together.
What this is about
The letter is the only thing the law names. It has to be one letter, not four. So the leaders must write it together.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: 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, Office of the Minority Leader of the SenateHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“any other item that the offices described in paragraph (1) jointly determine appropriate”
Section 2(b)(2)(A)(ii) leaves the rest of the contents open. Beyond the joint letter, the Act names no item, and anything the four offices jointly determine appropriate may go in, subject to the material limits in section 2(b)(2)(B).
What the document actually says
“any other item that the offices described in paragraph (1) jointly determine appropriate”
That sentence, in plain words
Other things can go in the box too. The four offices have to agree on each one.
What this is about
The law names only the letter. Everything else is left to the leaders. The rules about safe stuff still apply to each item.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: 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, Office of the Minority Leader of the SenateHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“shall be made of materials that pose a low risk of degrading, such as metal or archival paper”
Section 2(b)(2)(B)(i) limits every item placed in the Time Capsule to materials that pose a low risk of degrading, and gives metal and archival paper as examples.
What the document actually says
“shall be made of materials that pose a low risk of degrading, such as metal or archival paper”
That sentence, in plain words
Each item must be made of stuff that lasts. Metal and special paper are two examples.
What this is about
The box will sit shut for 250 years. Most things rot or crumble in that time. So the law asks for things that hold up.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall not”Who acts: 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, Office of the Minority Leader of the SenateHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“shall not be made of any organic or inorganic material that poses a high risk of degrading”
Section 2(b)(2)(B)(ii) bars any item made of organic or inorganic material that poses a high risk of degrading. The bar reaches both categories, so it does not turn on whether a material came from a living source.
What the document actually says
“shall not be made of any organic or inorganic material that poses a high risk of degrading”
That sentence, in plain words
Nothing that breaks down fast can go in. That rule covers living stuff and non-living stuff alike.
What this is about
Food, cloth, and plain paper break down. Some metals and plastics do too. The law rules out both kinds.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Architect of the CapitolHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Time Capsule shall be not more than 50 inches wide, 32 inches deep, and 48 inches high.”
Section 2(b)(3) sets an upper bound on the Time Capsule's dimensions: not more than 50 inches wide, 32 inches deep, and 48 inches high. It states a maximum rather than a fixed size.
What the document actually says
“The Time Capsule shall be not more than 50 inches wide, 32 inches deep, and 48 inches high.”
That sentence, in plain words
The box can be 50 inches wide at most. It can be 32 inches deep and 48 inches high.
What this is about
That is about the size of a large chest. The law sets the top size, not the exact size. It can be smaller.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “can”Who acts: 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, Office of the Minority Leader of the SenateHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“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”
Section 2(b)(4) permits the four offices to consult the Architect of the Capitol, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and any other federal entity they consider appropriate while choosing the contents. The subsection permits rather than requires.
What the document actually says
“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”
That sentence, in plain words
The four offices can ask others for help. They can ask the Architect. They can also ask the head of the Smithsonian or any other federal group.
What this is about
This is a choice, not a duty. The law uses the word may. So the offices can skip it.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Architect of the CapitolHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“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”
Section 2(c)(1) directs the Architect of the Capitol to prepare the Time Capsule for sealing and burial in the Capitol Visitor Center, on or before July 4, 2026. The Architect specifies the location, subject to approval by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Committee on House Administration.
What the document actually says
“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”
That sentence, in plain words
The Architect must get the box ready to be closed up and buried. It goes in the Capitol Visitor Center. Two committees must agree on the spot. It has to happen by July 4, 2026.
What this is about
The Capitol Visitor Center sits under the east lawn. July 4, 2026 is the 250th birthday of the country. The law was signed in February of that year.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Architect of the CapitolHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“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”
Section 2(c)(1) also fixes the hour of the burial: it is to be held at a time that would let those attending it also attend the burial of a time capsule at Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under section 7(f)(1) of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016. This Act says nothing further about that other burial.
What the document actually says
“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”
That sentence, in plain words
The hour is set so people can go to both events. A second box is being buried in Philadelphia that day.
What this is about
Independence Mall is a park in Philadelphia. This law points to an older law from 2016 for that second burial. It does not say more about it.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Architect of the CapitolHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“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”
Section 2(c)(2) directs the Architect of the Capitol to install a plaque carrying whatever information about the Time Capsule the Architect considers appropriate, with the approval of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Committee on House Administration. The Act prescribes no wording.
What the document actually says
“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”
That sentence, in plain words
The Architect must put up a sign. The sign tells people about the box. The Architect picks what it says. Two committees must agree.
What this is about
A buried box is easy to walk past. The sign marks the spot. The law does not say what the sign must say.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Majority Leader of the SenateHow: statuteSec. 2 in the PDF
What the document says
“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”
Section 2(d) keeps the Time Capsule sealed until July 4, 2276. On that date the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate are to present it to the 244th Congress, and the section leaves it to that Congress to determine how the contents should be preserved or used.
What the document actually says
“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”
That sentence, in plain words
The box stays shut until July 4, 2276. On that day two leaders hand it to the Congress sitting then. That Congress decides what to do with what is inside.
What this is about
That date is 250 years after 2026. The law calls that body the 244th Congress. A new Congress starts every two years.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
Each duty and limit the section sets: who creates the Time Capsule, who chooses its contents, what must be in it, what it may be made of, how big it may be, who may be consulted, where and when it is buried, the plaque, and the date it is opened.
The section's internal cross references by paragraph letter and number, which are recorded only where they carry a duty of their own.
The section points to section 7(f)(1) of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 for a separate burial in Philadelphia. That Act is not indexed here, so nothing is recorded about what it requires.
