Which public law established the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission?

Public Law 114-196 established the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.

The law is the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016. It provided the congressional foundation for planning the 250th anniversary of American independence and directed the federal government toward several commemorative activities, including coins, postage stamps, and appropriately named naval vessels.

The legislation also identified historically significant locations for anniversary activities. Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, and Charleston, South Carolina, were named as leading cities. This reflected the anniversary’s connection to the Revolutionary era and the varied places involved in the struggle for independence.

Public Law 114-196 is distinct from the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020. The 2016 law created the commission, while the 2020 legislation authorized special coin redesigns connected to the semiquincentennial. Confusing those laws can lead to an incorrect answer.