Congress is heading back to its roots in Philadelphia for a historic offsite gathering on July 2 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, according to the U.S. representative organizing the event and a local official with knowledge of its planning.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Democrat whose district includes Philadelphia, is spearheading the gathering. “Exactly two years ago I launched this effort to bring Members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, back to the place where it all began 250 years ago: Independence Hall,” Boyle said in a statement to TIME. “I am very proud and excited this special event is happening. It will be a unifying moment for the Congress and our country, at a time when we need it most.”
The President & CEO of the Philadelphia Visitor Center, Kathryn Ott Lovell, told TIME she was aware that members of Congress were planning to convene at Independence Hall on July 2.
Boyle first proposed holding a special joint session at Independence Hall in June 2024. But his initial resolution hadn’t moved forward with just three short weeks to go. Instead, the visit is slated to go ahead as a ceremonial event, according to Boyle’s office, which doesn’t require an official act of Congress. It’s being organized as part of America250, the bipartisan national commemoration of the 250th anniversary, the office said.
Ceremonial or not, the event will still be a historic gathering of lawmakers outside of Washington. Such offsite meetings are extremely rare. In Sept. 2002, Congress held a commemorative session in New York City to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Congress also convened a ceremonial session at Independence Hall in 1987 to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. That event marked the first time since 1800—the year the federal government moved from Philadelphia to Washington—that Congress met somewhere other than on the banks of the Potomac.
Plans for the 1987 session were to include every member of the 100th Congress, but security, space, and cost made that impossible. Each state delegation appointed one lawmaker to attend the gathering. Thousands of people gathered on the mall outside Independence Hall to watch the proceedings on big screens.
Independence Hall cannot accommodate all 535 members of Congress, so a smaller delegation is expected to visit Philadelphia next month. Neither House Speaker Mike Johnson nor Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ offices immediately responded to requests for comment.
The planned gathering comes amid celebrations across the country to mark the nation’s 250th birthday. President Donald Trump has organized a UFC fight June 14th at the White House, part of a slate of celebratory “Freedom 250” events taking place from June 25 to July 10.
In Philadelphia, a national march of mayors is also planned for July 2, with mayors from around the U.S. marching from City Hall to Independence Hall. Pope Leo is also receiving (virtually) the medal of honor at the National Constitution Center that day. On July 4 Philadelphia will host a Round of 16 World Cup game and a large free outdoor concert on the parkway.
There’s significance to holding the Congressional event on July 2. While the U.S. celebrates Independence Day on July 4, officially, the Continental Congress declared its freedom from Great Britain on July 2, 1776, when it voted to approve a resolution submitted by delegate Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. The Congress drafted a document explaining the vote to the public and it was sent to the printer on July 4. The first public reading of the document occurred outside Independence Hall on July 8, 1776.
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