Which organization was created by Congress in 2016 to coordinate America’s 250th-anniversary observances?

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was created by Congress in 2016 to coordinate America’s 250th-anniversary observances.

Congress established the commission through the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016. It is a nonpartisan federal commission associated with the public America250 initiative, which promotes anniversary programs across the country.

The commission’s creation came after years of discussion about how to organize a national commemoration. A Philadelphia nonprofit called USA250 had been established in 2011 to advocate for federal support and a major observance centered on the city.

The commission is distinct from the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, which coordinated the 1976 200th-anniversary celebration. It is also separate from private organizations and from later executive-branch bodies created for specific anniversary planning purposes.