Which organization did Congress establish in 2016 to plan the United States’ 250th anniversary?

Congress established the United States Semiquincentennial Commission in 2016 to plan the United States’ 250th anniversary.

The commission is a congressional, nonpartisan organization associated with America250. Its purpose is to coordinate and encourage nationwide commemorations of the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The commission’s work covers more than a single ceremony. America250 planning includes educational programs, public history projects, cultural activities, commemorative events, and cooperation with states, communities, organizations, and federal institutions.

The commission is sometimes confused with the United States Bicentennial Commission, which organized the 1976 200th-anniversary observance. The two bodies belong to different anniversary cycles. America250 refers to the later semiquincentennial, culminating on July 4, 2026.