IV
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION 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
FEBRUARY27, 2025
Mr. B
OYLEof Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. EVANSof Penn-
sylvania, Ms. S
ALAZAR, Mrs. WATSONCOLEMAN, Ms. SCANLON, Mr.
T
HOMPSONof Pennsylvania, Ms. DEANof Pennsylvania, Mr. DELUZIO,
Mr. F
ITZPATRICK, Ms. HOULAHAN, Ms. LEEof Pennsylvania, Mr. MAC-
KENZIE, and Mr. SMUCKER) submitted the following concurrent resolu-
tion; 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 Independ-
ence.
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;
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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 Philadel-
phia, 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 Through-
out 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 bicen-
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•HCON 16 IH
tennial of the Constitution’’ and commemorate ‘‘the
200th anniversary of the Great Compromise of the Con-
stitutional 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 rec-
ognition 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 1
concurring), That, in honor of the semiquincentennial of 2
the Declaration of Independence, the two Houses of the 3
Congress shall assemble in a joint session at the Independ-4
ence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsyl-5
vania, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, for the purpose of com-6
memorating the Declaration of Independence. 7
Æ
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