WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt joined Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and fellow members of Congress this week for the unveiling of the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, a historic project commemorating the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary of independence.

Aderholt, who serves as a member of the America 250 Commission, participated in the ceremony in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol alongside Speaker Johnson, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Shelley Moore Capito and Alex Padilla, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, Architect of the Capitol Thomas Austin and other members of Congress.

The time capsule was established through the bipartisan and bicameral Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act, passed by Congress in February. It will be sealed for 250 years and opened on July 4, 2276, during the nation’s quincentennial celebration, preserving a snapshot of American life and history for future generations.

As a founding member of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and a co-sponsor of the legislation, Aderholt said the project provides an opportunity to document historic milestones while telling the story of the nation through contributions from every state and U.S. territory.

The Alabama congressman said he hopes Americans who open the time capsule 250 years from now will gain a better understanding of who today’s Americans were and the values they held. He also expressed confidence that the nation will continue to embrace the resilience and enduring principles that have made the United States a symbol of liberty and opportunity, adding that he hopes the preserved artifacts will inspire future generations to learn from those who came before them and continue America’s legacy as a “shining city upon a hill.”

During the ceremony, Speaker Johnson described the time capsule as only the second congressional time capsule created in the nation’s history, noting that the first was prepared during America’s Centennial celebration in 1876.

Johnson said the project represents “faith in the future of this grand experiment in self-governance” and reflects the belief that the nation’s story is worth preserving for generations to come. He said the capsule captures what America looks like today while expressing hope for the country’s future as it approaches its 250th anniversary.

The Speaker also noted that when the capsule is opened in 2276, those Americans will be as far removed from today’s generation as modern Americans are from the Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence. He expressed hope that future generations will remember today’s Americans as people who worked hard, cared for their neighbors, loved their country and preserved it for those who followed.

The Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule is one of several initiatives being undertaken nationwide as the United States prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.