What is the official name of the congressional commission created in 2016 to coordinate America's 250th anniversary?

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The congressional commission created in 2016 to coordinate America's 250th anniversary is the United States Semiquincentennial Commission.

Congress established the commission through the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016. Its role is to promote and coordinate observances of the 250th anniversary of American independence. The commission works under the public-facing America250 banner, which is why the shorter name is often more visible than its formal title.

The commission includes members of Congress, private citizens, and federal officials. Its work covers national commemorations, educational initiatives, partnerships, and recommendations concerning anniversary activities. The law also directs the federal government to prepare commemorative coins and postage stamps and to commission appropriately named naval vessels.

The commission is sometimes confused with the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, which organized the 1976 200th-anniversary observances. It is also distinct from later White House task-force structures. The commission's planned term ends on December 31, 2027, after the main anniversary year has concluded.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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