I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5703 
To protect and preserve international cultural property at risk of destruction 
due to political instability, armed conflict, or natural or other disasters, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 13, 2014 
Mr. ENGEL (for himself and Mr. SMITH of New Jersey) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 
in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, and 
the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To protect and preserve international cultural property at 
risk of destruction due to political instability, armed con-
flict, or natural or other disasters, and for other pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘Protect and Preserve 
International Cultural Property Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:24 Nov 14, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5703.IH
H5703
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. DEFINITION. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate. 
(2) CULTURAL PROPERTY.—The term ‘‘cultural 
property’’ has the meaning given in Article 1(a)–1(c) 
of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cul-
tural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, con-
cluded at The Hague on May 14, 1954 (Treaty Doc. 
106–1(A)). 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Protecting international cultural property is 
a vital part of United States cultural diplomacy, 
showing the respect of the United States for other 
cultures and the common heritage of humanity. 
(2) International cultural property has been 
lost, damaged, or destroyed due to political insta-
bility, armed conflict, natural disasters, and other 
threats. 
(3) In Egypt, recent political instability has led 
to the ransacking of its museums, resulting in the 
destruction of countless ancient artifacts that will 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:17 Nov 15, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5703.IH
H5703
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
forever leave gaps in humanity’s record of the an-
cient Egyptian civilization. 
(4) In Iraq, after the fall of Saddam Hussein, 
thieves looted the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, result-
ing in the loss of approximately 15,000 items. These 
included ancient amulets, sculptures, ivories, and 
cylinder seals. Many of these items remain unre-
covered. 
(5) In Syria, the ongoing civil war has resulted 
in the shelling of medieval cities, damage to five 
UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the looting of 
museums and archaeological sites. Archaeological 
and historic sites and artifacts in Syria date back 
more than six millennia and include some of the ear-
liest examples of writing. 
(6) In Iraq and Syria, the militant group ISIS/ 
ISIL has destroyed cultural sites and artifacts, such 
as the Tomb of Jonah in July 2014, in an effort to 
eradicate ethnic and religious minorities from con-
tested territories. Concurrently, cultural antiquities 
that escape demolition are looted and illicitly traf-
ficked to help fund ISIS/ISIL’s militant operations. 
(7) In Mali, the Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist 
group Ansar Dine destroyed tombs and shrines in 
the ancient city of Timbuktu—a major center for 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:24 Nov 14, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5703.IH
H5703
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS