I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2285 
To improve enforcement against trafficking in cultural property and prevent 
stolen or illicit cultural property from financing terrorist and criminal 
networks, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 13, 2015 
Mr. KEATING (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL, and Mr. ENGEL) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 
and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security and the Judici-
ary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To improve enforcement against trafficking in cultural prop-
erty and prevent stolen or illicit cultural property from 
financing terrorist and criminal networks, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Prevent Trafficking 
in Cultural Property Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEFINITION. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘cultural property’’ includes 
property covered under— 
(1) Article 1 of the Hague Convention for the 
Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of 
Armed Conflict, adopted at the Hague on May 14, 
1954 (Treaty 13 Doc. 106–1(A)); or 
(2) Article 1 of the Convention on the Means 
of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Ex-
port, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Prop-
erty, adopted by the United Nations Educational, 
Scientific and Cultural Organization (‘‘UNESCO’’) 
on November 14, 1970. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It shall be the policy of the United States to— 
(1) ensure the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity, specifically U.S. Customs and Border Protec-
tion (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs En-
forcement (ICE), enhances and unifies its efforts 
to— 
(A) interdict, detain, seize, and investigate 
cultural property illegally imported into the 
United States; 
(B) disrupt and dismantle smuggling and 
trafficking networks engaged in, conspiring to 
engage in, or facilitating illegal trade in cultural 
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property, including stolen antiquities used to fi-
nance terrorism; and 
(C) support Offices of United States Attor-
neys in prosecuting persons engaged in, con-
spiring to engage in, or facilitating illegal trade 
in cultural property; and 
(2) protect cultural property pursuant to its ob-
ligations under the 1954 Hague Convention for the 
Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of 
Armed Conflict, the 1970 UNESCO Convention on 
the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit 
Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cul-
tural Property, and the Convention on Cultural 
Property Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 2601– 
2613). 
SEC. 4. ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 
SECURITY. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through 
the Commissioner of CBP and the Director of ICE, as 
applicable, shall— 
(1) direct CBP and ICE to each designate a 
principal coordinator or group of personnel to direct, 
manage, coordinate, and update their respective poli-
cies and procedures, as well as conduct interagency 
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communications, regarding illegally imported cul-
tural property; 
(2) direct CBP and ICE to each update existing 
directives, regulations, rules, and memoranda of un-
derstanding, and, if necessary, devise additional di-
rectives, regulations, rules, and memoranda of un-
derstanding, relating to policies and procedures on 
the illegal importation of cultural property in order 
to— 
(A) reflect changes in cultural property 
law, including changes and updates to relevant 
treaties, bilateral agreements, statutes, regula-
tions, and case law that occurred subsequent to 
Customs Directive No. 5230–015, ‘‘Customs 
Directive on Detention and Seizure of Cultural 
Property’’, dated April 18, 1991; 
(B) emphasize investigating, and providing 
support for investigations and prosecutions, of 
persons engaged in, conspiring to engage in, or 
facilitating the illegal importation of cultural 
property, including smugglers, dealers, buyers, 
money launderers, and any other parties, 
facilitators, and enablers; and 
(C) provide for communication, coordina-
tion, and unity of effort between relevant CBP 
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and ICE offices in investigating and supporting 
prosecutions of persons engaged in, conspiring 
to engage in, or facilitating the illegal importa-
tion of cultural property; and 
(3) ensure all personnel within CBP and ICE 
involved in interdicting and investigating the illegal 
importation of cultural property receive sufficient 
training in— 
(A) relevant cultural property laws; 
(B) the identification of cultural property 
from regions that are at greatest risk of looting 
and trafficking; and 
(C) methods of interdiction and investiga-
tive techniques specifically related to illegal 
trade in cultural property. 
SEC. 5. ROLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
that the heads of all components of the Department of 
Homeland Security involved in cultural property protec-
tion activities are authorized to enter into agreements or 
memoranda of understanding with the Smithsonian Insti-
tution to temporarily engage personnel from the Smithso-
nian Institution for the purposes of furthering such cul-
tural property protection activities. 
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SEC. 6. REPORT. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and three years thereafter, the Secretary 
of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a report on— 
(1) the progress of the implementation of this 
Act; and 
(2) the Department’s other actions to enhance 
and unify its efforts to interdict, detain, seize, and 
investigate cultural property illegally imported into 
the United States, and investigate, disrupt, and dis-
mantle smuggling and trafficking networks engaged 
in, conspiring to engage in, or facilitating the illegal 
importation of cultural property. 
Æ 
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