Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act

Bill: 114-hr-2285
Sponsor: Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
Introduced: 2015-05-13 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Historical and cultural resources
Law enforcement officers
Smithsonian Institution
Smuggling and trafficking
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: 

Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act

 
Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) ensure that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enhance and unify their efforts to interdict, detain, seize, and investigate cultural property illegally imported into the United States, disrupt and dismantle smuggling and trafficking networks engaged in or facilitating illegal trade in cultural property, and support Offices of U.S. Attorneys in prosecuting persons engaged in such illegal trade; and (2) protect cultural property pursuant to U.S. obligations under international conventions.
 
Requires the CBP and ICE to each designate a principal coordinator or group of personnel to direct, manage, coordinate, and update their respective policies and procedures, and conduct interagency communications, regarding illegally imported cultural property. Directs the CBP and ICE to update and devise directives, regulations, rules, and memoranda of understanding relating to policies and procedures on the illegal importation of cultural property in order to: (1) reflect changes in cultural property law, (2) emphasize investigating, and providing support for investigations and prosecutions of, persons engaged in or facilitating the illegal importation of cultural property, and (3) provide for communication, coordination, and unity of effort between relevant CBP and ICE offices in investigating and supporting prosecutions of such individuals.
 
Requires the CBP and ICE to ensure that all CBP and ICE personnel involved in interdicting and investigating the illegal importation of cultural property receive sufficient training in relevant cultural property laws, the identification of cultural property from regions that are at greatest risk of looting and trafficking, and methods of interdiction and investigative techniques specifically related to illegal trade in cultural property.
 
Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that the heads of all DHS components involved in cultural property protection activities are authorized to enter into agreements or memoranda of understanding to temporarily engage personnel from the Smithsonian Institution to further cultural property protection activities.

action_date: 2016-09-22
text: 

Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act

 
(Sec. 3) This bill declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) ensure that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components enhance and unify their efforts to interdict, detain, seize, and investigate cultural property illegally imported into the United States, disrupt and dismantle smuggling and trafficking networks engaged in or facilitating illegal trade in cultural property, and support prosecutions of persons engaged in such illegal trade; and (2) protect cultural property pursuant to obligations under international conventions.
 
(Sec. 4) It directs the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to: (1) designate a principal coordinator to direct, manage, coordinate, and update policies and procedures, and conduct interagency communications, regarding illegally imported cultural property; (2) update and devise directives, regulations, rules, and memoranda of understanding relating to policies and procedures on the illegal importation of cultural property; and (3) train relevant personnel on cultural property laws, identification of at-risk items, and investigative techniques with respect to illegally traded cultural property. 
 
(Sec. 5) DHS must authorize relevant component heads to enter into agreements or memoranda of understanding with the Smithsonian Institution to further activities to protect cultural property.
 
(Sec. 6) The CBP and ICE must jointly report to Congress on implementation of this bill and other actions to prevent the illegal importation of cultural property into the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-26
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 0 (Roll no. 547). (text: CR 09/20/2016 H5688-5689)
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 0 (Roll no. 547).(text: CR 09/20/2016 H5688-5689)
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5837)
action_date: 2016-09-20
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2016-09-20
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2285.
action_date: 2016-09-20
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5688-5690)
action_date: 2016-09-20
text: Mr. Roskam moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2016-09-19
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 593.
action_date: 2016-09-19
text: Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
action_date: 2016-09-19
text: Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
action_date: 2016-09-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 114-380, Part II.
action_date: 2016-09-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 114-380, Part II.
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-380, Part I.
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-380, Part I.
action_date: 2015-11-04
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2015-11-04
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-06-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2015-06-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Introduced in House