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.

[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:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 171 (2025):
            Nov. 18, considered and passed House.
            Nov. 20, considered and passed Senate.

                                  <all>