HR 2930 · 117th Congress 2021–2023, ended

Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021

Fact sheet

Latest action · Dec 21, 2022 Became Public Law No: 117-258.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedApr 30, 2021
  2. Passed HouseDec 2, 2021
  3. Passed SenateNov 29, 2022
  4. To the PresidentDec 16, 2022
  5. Became lawDec 21, 2022

Summary

Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021

This act prohibits the exportation of Native American cultural items and archaeological resources that were illegally obtained; provides for the return of such items, including voluntary returns; and establishes and increases related criminal penalties.

Specifically, the act makes it a federal crime to export, attempt to export, or otherwise transport from the United States Native American cultural items and archaeological resources without obtaining an export certification. U.S. Customs and Border Protection must detain any item requiring an export certification that does not have one.

The act requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of State to each designate a liaison to facilitate and hold trainings and workshops on the voluntary return of human remains and cultural items.

Additionally, Interior must

  • refer individuals and organizations to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to facilitate the voluntary return of human remains and cultural items;
  • convene an interagency working group; and
  • convene a Native working group consisting of representatives of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to provide advice on issues concerning the return of, and illegal trade in, human remains and cultural items.

The act also increases the maximum criminal penalties for violating the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. In particular, the act increases from 5 years to 10 years the maximum prison term for an individual convicted of a second or subsequent violation of selling, purchasing, using for profit, or transporting for sale or profit human remains or cultural items that were illegally obtained.

Recorded votes 1

Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.

Roll callQuestionResultDate
House 401Passed364–57Dec 2, 2021

Cosponsors 24

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Apr 30, 2021 to Nov 1, 2021, with 7 there on the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
R-ASAumua Amata Coleman RadewagenOriginalApr 30, 2021
R-FLBrian J. MastOriginalApr 30, 2021
D-MEChellie PingreeOriginalApr 30, 2021
R-AKDon YoungOriginalApr 30, 2021
D-CAKaren BassOriginalApr 30, 2021
D-KSSharice DavidsOriginalApr 30, 2021
R-OKTom ColeOriginalApr 30, 2021
D-WADerek KilmerMay 28, 2021
D-AZTom O'HalleranJun 1, 2021
D-HIEd CaseJun 11, 2021
D-MNBetty McCollumJun 29, 2021
D-NMMelanie A. StansburySep 28, 2021
R-OHDavid P. JoyceSep 29, 2021
D-DCEleanor Holmes NortonOct 8, 2021
D-CAMark TakanoOct 8, 2021

Actions 27

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Dec 21, 2022Became Public Law No: 117-258.
  2. Dec 21, 2022Signed by President.
  3. Dec 16, 2022Presented to President.
  4. Nov 30, 2022Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  5. Nov 29, 2022Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6847-6848)

Related bills 1

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
S 1471Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021Related billJul 28, 2021

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Native Americans.

Text 5

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. —Enrolled Bill
  2. Dec 7, 2021Received in Senate
  3. Dec 2, 2021Engrossed in House
  4. Dec 1, 2021Reported in House
  5. Apr 30, 2021Introduced in House

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.