Barack Obama signed the 2016 law that created the United States Semiquincentennial Commission for America250.
The commission was established through the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016. Its purpose was to help plan and coordinate observances of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding-era events associated with 1776.
Obama was president when the act became law. The commission is a congressional, nonpartisan body, distinct from America250.org, the nonprofit supporting organization that helps carry out public engagement and commemorative activities.
The commission’s creation came well before the anniversary year. Planning involved national programs, state and local participation, historical education, and public events leading to July 4, 2026. The name can cause confusion because “America250” is widely used for the overall commemoration, while the formal federal entity is the United States Semiquincentennial Commission.