Which 2016 federal law established the United States Semiquincentennial Commission for America’s 250th anniversary?

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 established the commission for America’s 250th anniversary.

The commission is the congressionally appointed body responsible for promoting and coordinating the United States Semiquincentennial, commonly branded as America250. President Barack Obama signed the establishing legislation in 2016.

The commission includes members of Congress, private citizens, and federal officials. Congress designed it to coordinate nationwide observances rather than limit the commemoration to one city or one historical event.

The commission’s work concerns the anniversary of American independence in 2026, but its mandate also encompasses the broader history of the United States. The organization works with the America250 Foundation and the American Battlefield Trust, which serves as its administrative secretariat.