Allowing Alaska to Improve Vital Opportunities in the Rural Economy Act

To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to protect the cultural practices and livelihoods of producers of Alaska Native handicrafts and traditional mammoth ivory products, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Allowing Alaska to Improve Vital Opportunities in the Rural Economy Act Allowing Alaska IVORY Act 2. Alaska Native Handicrafts Section 101(b) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 ( 16 U.S.C. 1371(b) (1) by striking paragraph (1) and all that follows through is done (A) (i) is for subsistence purposes; or (ii) is done ; (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as subparagraph (B), and indenting appropriately; (3) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)(i) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), by striking (b) Except as (b) Application to certain Alaska Natives (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Authentic native article of handicrafts and clothing The term authentic native article of handicrafts and clothing (B) Traditional native handicrafts The term traditional native handicrafts (2) Application Except as ; (4) in subparagraph (A)(ii) of paragraph (2) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), by striking and clothing: painting and clothing (5) in the flush text following subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) (as redesignated by paragraph (2)), by striking Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this subsection, when (3) Limitations Notwithstanding paragraph (2), if ; and (6) by adding at the end the following: (4) Special Rules (A) Interstate Commerce Only authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing may be sold in interstate commerce. (B) Edible portions of marine mammals Any edible portion of a marine mammal may be sold in a native village or town in Alaska or for native consumption. (5) Prohibitions (A) Walrus ivory or whale bone No State shall prohibit the importation, sale, offer for sale, transfer, trade, barter, possession or possession with the intent to sell, transfer, trade, or barter of walrus ivory or whale bone produced under this title by an Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo as an authentic native article of handicrafts and clothing. (B) Mammoth ivory No State shall prohibit the importation, sale, offer for sale, transfer, trade, possession or possession with the intent to sell, transfer, trade, or barter of mammoth ivory or a mammoth ivory product. .

Summary: Allowing Alaska to Improve Vital Opportunities in the Rural Economy Act or the Allowing Alaska IVORY Act This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to revise an exemption for Alaskan natives from a moratorium on taking and importing marine mammals and marine mammal products with respect to ivory from walruses, whales, or mammoths. Under current law, the term "take" means to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill a marine mammal. States may not prohibit: (1) the importation, sale, transfer, trade, barter, or possession of ivory from walruses or whales if the ivory is legally produced by Alaskan natives as an authentic native article of handicrafts and clothing; or (2) the importation, sale, transfer, trade, or possession of mammoth ivory or mammoth ivory products.