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PRINTER'S NO. 3647
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 576
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY WARNER AND DALEY, JUNE 18, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, JUNE 18, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Commemorating July 4, 2026, on the important and historic event
of the "United States Semiquincentennial, America 250" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania joins the rest of
the country in celebrating the historic 250th anniversary of the
signing of the Declaration of Independence; and
WHEREAS, Years of unpopular and oppressive British colonial
rule and strict British laws in colonial America fueled outrage;
and
WHEREAS, The frustration over taxation without colonial
representation in Parliament erupted in historic violence in
colonial Massachusetts in 1770, known as the "Boston Massacre";
and
WHEREAS, British Parliament passed the Tea Act of 1773, which
placed significant adverse economic implications on the American
colonies; and
WHEREAS, American colonists' frustration over the aggressive
British economic policies resulted in a rebellious group of
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colonists sneaking aboard East India Company ships in Boston
Harbor and dumping the cargo of tea into the water; and
WHEREAS, The British responded to the "Boston Tea Party" with
the passage and enforcement of the "Intolerable Acts," a series
of laws that imposed significant punitive punishments on the
American colonies, particularly Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, As colonial resistance grew, in 1774, the First
Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In 1775, the first fighting of the Revolutionary War
began in Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, The idea of war was not popular among American
colonists at first; and
WHEREAS, Britain's continued strong military presence in the
American colonies inspired the sense of American colonial
independence; and
WHEREAS, On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee submitted a
resolution to the Continental Congress, urging Congress to
declare independence from Britain; and
WHEREAS, The Continental Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson,
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R.
Livingston, known as the "Committee of Five," to draft the
Declaration of Independence; and
WHEREAS, On June 11, 1776, a first draft of the declaration
was submitted; and
WHEREAS, From July 1 through 4, 1776, the Continental
Congress debated and revised the declaration, and the document
was adopted on the morning of July 4, 1776; and
WHEREAS, The signing of the Declaration of Independence
formally severed political ties between the 13 American colonies
and the British Empire; and
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WHEREAS, On July 6, 1776, the Pennsylvania Evening Post
printed the first newspaper rendition of the declaration; and
WHEREAS, The first public reading of the Declaration of
Independence occurred in Philadelphia at noon on July 8, 1776,
when Colonel John Nixon read the document to a crowd of around
2,000 people in the State House Yard, today known as
Independence Square; and
WHEREAS, 250 years later, our country has grown from 13
colonies to 50 states, five territories and one Federal
District; and
WHEREAS, On July 4, 2026, our country will unite to celebrate
the creation of our nation's founding document; and
WHEREAS, Residents across the country will be gathering to
celebrate the "Red, White and Blue"; and
WHEREAS, Fireworks will light up the skies and patriotic
music will fill the air; and
WHEREAS, Communities across the country will be gathering and
reflecting on our country's independence, particularly on the
how and where; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is commonly referred to
as the "Birthplace of America"; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania played a vital role in the road to
American independence; and
WHEREAS, The historical significance to our country's
independence is not limited to Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, From the Zion's Reformed Church in Allentown, where
colonists hid the "Liberty Bell" from the British in fear that
it would be captured and melted down for bullets to York County
temporarily hosting the Continental Congress government while
Philadelphia was under British control, each of Pennsylvania's
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67 counties have countless revolutionary stories to share,
recognize and be celebrated; and
WHEREAS, On July 3 and 4, 2026, the country will be
celebrating in the largest synchronized Fourth of July event,
known as "America's Block Party"; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commemorate July 4, 2026, on the
important and historic event of the "United States
Semiquincentennial, America 250" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That residents be encouraged to reflect on the
250th anniversary and celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event by
participating in local activities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania encourage all residents to
celebrate and reflect on the meaning of freedom, democracy and
citizenship; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
Patrick Burns, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission for the
United States Semiquincentennial (America 250PA).
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