H.J.Res. 133

[119th Congress Public Law 46]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

[[Page 139 STAT. 694]]

Public Law 119-46
119th Congress

Joint Resolution

Requesting the Secretary of the Interior to authorize unique and one-
time arrangements for displays on the National Mall and the Washington 
Monument during the period beginning on December 31, 2025, and ending on 
January 5, 2026. <<NOTE: Dec. 2, 2025 - [H.J. Res. 133]>> 

Whereas the Second Continental Congress unanimously agreed to adopt the 
Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in which the Second 
Continental Congress declared a complete break with Britain and the 
king and claimed the powers of an independent country;

Whereas the founding of the United States represented a historic world 
event that has improved the lives of the people of the United States 
and the people of other nations in profound ways for centuries;

Whereas the ideas of the founding fathers, including representative 
government, guaranteed rights, and national sovereignty, inspire all 
people of the United States to this day;

Whereas, on July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the independence and 
founding of the United States will be commemorated and celebrated;

Whereas Congress enacted the United States Semiquincentennial Commission 
Act of 2016 (36 U.S.C. note prec. 101; Public Law 114-196) to plan, 
encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the history 
of the United States leading up to the 250th anniversary of the 
founding of the United States;

Whereas the United States Semiquincentennial Commission has planned, 
coordinated, and inspired celebrations of the 250th anniversary 
across the United States to mark the occasion;

Whereas New Year's Eve in 2025 marks the boundary between the 249th and 
250th year of the United States, will bring the people of the United 
States together, and will be a fitting date to initiate celebrations 
of the 250th anniversary of the United States in earnest;

Whereas Congress explored lighting the Washington Monument and other 
capital monuments at night during calendar year 1976 to celebrate 
the bicentennial of the United States;

Whereas the National Mall hosted the 50th anniversary commemoration of 
the Apollo 11 lunar landing in 2019, which included the display of 
NASA and Smithsonian artifacts on the National Mall for 5 days and 
concluded each night with an inspiring video program that projected 
footage from the Apollo 11 program on the Washington Monument;

[[Page 139 STAT. 695]]

Whereas the commemoration of the Apollo 11 lunar landing was attended by 
over 500,000 people from all over the United States who gathered 
over a period of 5 days to celebrate the historic achievements of 
the Apollo program and watched the video program centered on the 
Washington Monument;

Whereas hundreds of thousands of people of the United States visit 
Washington, DC, each holiday season and attend outdoor exhibits;

Whereas Washington, DC, is uniquely suitable to host the people of the 
United States for inaugural United States semiquincentennial 
festivities; and

Whereas the Washington Monument is central to the Washington, DC, 
landscape and commemorates one of the most prominent figures in the 
founding of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress--
(1) requests the Secretary of the Interior to authorize 
unique and one-time arrangements for the display of United 
States semiquincentennial materials and other significant 
artifacts, digital content, film footage, and associated audio 
and imagery in and around the vicinity of the National Mall, 
including projected onto the surface of the Washington Monument 
for 5 nights of public display, during the period beginning on 
December 31, 2025, and ending on January 5, 2026; and
(2) <<NOTE: Records.>> respectfully requests that the Clerk 
of the House of Representatives transmit an enrolled copy of 
this resolution to--
(A) the Secretary of the Interior; and
(B) the Chair of the United States 
Semiquincentennial Commission.

Approved December 2, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.J. Res. 133:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 171 (2025):
Nov. 18, considered and passed House.
Nov. 20, considered and passed Senate.

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