H.Con.Res. 16

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 16 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 16

Providing for a joint session of the Congress in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, in honor of the 
semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 27, 2025

Mr. Boyle of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. Aderholt, Mr. Evans of 
Pennsylvania, Ms. Salazar, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. 
Thompson of Pennsylvania, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. 
Fitzpatrick, Ms. Houlahan, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mr. Mackenzie, and 
Mr. Smucker) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Providing for a joint session of the Congress in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, in honor of the 
semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence.

Whereas the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1682;
Whereas Philadelphia has become known as the Nation's birthplace for the 
critical role it played in the founding of the United States of America;
Whereas Philadelphia was the meeting place for the first Continental Congress, 
the second Continental Congress, and the Constitutional Convention;
Whereas Philadelphia served as the capital of the United States from 1790-1800;
Whereas, on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved the 
Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, at the Pennsylvania State 
House, now known as Independence Hall;
Whereas the Declaration of Independence officially severed the 13 colonies' ties 
to the British Crown;
Whereas Independence Hall is 1 of only 26 cultural World Heritage sites in the 
United States of America;
Whereas Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, became the first World Heritage City in the 
United States of America;
Whereas, shortly after the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin 
Franklin proclaimed of the Rising Sun Armchair at Independence Hall, ``I 
have often looked at that picture behind the president without being 
able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now at length I have 
the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun'';
Whereas across from Independence Hall stands the Liberty Bell, displaying the 
phrase ``Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the 
Inhabitants thereof'';
Whereas only on 2 occasions since the United States Capitol moved to Washington, 
District of Colombia, in 1800 has Congress convened outside of the 
District of Colombia;
Whereas, on July 16, 1987, Congress met at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, to ``honor the bicentennial of the Constitution'' and 
commemorate ``the 200th anniversary of the Great Compromise of the 
Constitutional Convention'';
Whereas, on September 6, 2002, Congress met at Federal Hall in New York, New 
York, ``in remembrance of the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001, 
and in recognition of the courage and spirit of the City of New York''; 
and
Whereas, July 4, 2026, will serve as the semiquincentennial, or 250th 
anniversary, of the founding of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That, in honor of the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of 
Independence, the two Houses of the Congress shall assemble in a joint 
session at the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, for the purpose of 
commemorating the Declaration of Independence.
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