Which congressional organization began official planning for America250 in 2016?

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission began official congressional planning for America250 in 2016.

Congress created the commission as a nonpartisan organization to coordinate the 250th-anniversary commemoration. Its work includes encouraging national, state, local, educational, and cultural participation in events connected with the 2026 milestone.

The commission is distinct from the federal agencies and later presidential initiatives that may support individual programs. Its purpose is broader than organizing one parade or ceremony: it provides a framework for a nationwide celebration of American history and civic life.

The commission’s planning began a decade before the anniversary itself. That long lead time reflects the scale of a national observance involving museums, historic sites, schools, veterans’ groups, communities, and public events across the United States.