{"format":1,"id":"117-hr-2930","congress":117,"number":"H.R. 2930","kind":"bill","group":"bills","title":"Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021","title_source":"Short Titles as Enacted","official_title":"To enhance protections of Native American tangible cultural heritage, and for other purposes.","titles":[{"type":"Official Title as Introduced","title":"To enhance protections of Native American tangible cultural heritage, and for other purposes."},{"type":"Short Titles from ENR (Enrolled) bill text","title":"Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021"},{"type":"Display Title","title":"Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Titles as Enacted","title":"Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Titles as Passed Senate","title":"Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","title":"Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House","title":"Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021"}],"outcome":"became_law","law_number":"Public Law 117-258","introduced":"2021-04-30","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2021-12-02","vote":{"id":"117-2021-h401","question":"On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended","title":"Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021","result":"Passed","yea":364,"nay":57,"present":0,"not_voting":12,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll401.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"voice","date":"2022-11-29","vote":null,"how":"unanimous_consent","words":"Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent."}},"president":{"status":"signed","date":"2022-12-21"},"vice_president_tie_breaker":null,"latest_action":{"text":"Became Public Law No: 117-258.","date":"2022-12-21"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[],"other_votes":[],"crs_summary":{"date":"2022-12-21","stage":"Public Law","blocks":[{"k":"h","t":"Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021"},{"k":"p","t":"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."},{"k":"p","t":"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."},{"k":"p","t":"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."},{"k":"p","t":"Additionally, Interior must"},{"k":"li","t":"refer individuals and organizations to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to facilitate the voluntary return of human remains and cultural items;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"convene an interagency working group; and","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"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.","d":1},{"k":"p","t":"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."}],"words":255},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Prohibits the export of Native American cultural items and archaeological resources that are illegally trafficked, creates an export certification system for such items, sets up voluntary return programs and working groups, and raises criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. 1170.","cites":[{"label":"Sec. 4","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#H218A971502E5458D854B196D496E7652:~:text=4.%20Enhanced%20NAGPRA%20penalties"},{"label":"Sec. 5","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#HAA208BD93858480D955EFDCE2E09156E:~:text=5.%20Export%20prohibitions"},{"label":"Sec. 6","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#H00136C5ED4574ED1BD94308486EAD57D:~:text=6.%20Voluntary%20return%20of%20tangible%20cultural%20heritage"},{"label":"Sec. 7","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#H65AA8AEAB3A246ABBDFA88143F0C75BD:~:text=7.%20Interagency%20working%20group"},{"label":"Sec. 8","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#HB73420C144ED42E7A0F6B299FE534D18:~:text=8.%20Native%20working%20group"}]},"core_areas":["Export prohibitions and penalties for Native American cultural items and archaeological resources","Export certification system run by the Secretary of the Interior","Voluntary return of Native American tangible cultural heritage","Interagency working group and Native working group","Criminal penalties for trafficking in Native American human remains and cultural items"],"what_it_does":[{"text":"Amends section 1170 of title 18, United States Code, by changing \"5 years\" to \"10 years\" each place it appears and, in subsection (a), changing \"12 months\" to \"1 year and 1 day\".","cite":{"label":"Sec. 4","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#H218A971502E5458D854B196D496E7652:~:text=4.%20Enhanced%20NAGPRA%20penalties"}},{"text":"Makes it unlawful to export, attempt to export, or otherwise transport from the United States an Item Prohibited from Exportation, and sets imprisonment of up to 1 year and 1 day for a first violation and up to 10 years for a second or subsequent violation, for violators who knew or should have known the item was unlawfully taken, possessed, transported, or sold.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 5","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#HAA208BD93858480D955EFDCE2E09156E:~:text=5.%20Export%20prohibitions"}},{"text":"Requires an export certification before an Item Requiring Export Certification may be exported, and directs the Secretary of the Interior to process applications, with set review periods during which Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations may review them.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 5","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#HAA208BD93858480D955EFDCE2E09156E:~:text=5.%20Export%20prohibitions"}},{"text":"Directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to detain an Item Requiring Export Certification that someone tries to export without a certification and deliver it to the Secretary of the Interior, who must determine within 60 days whether it is an Item Prohibited from Exportation.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 5","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#HAA208BD93858480D955EFDCE2E09156E:~:text=5.%20Export%20prohibitions"}},{"text":"Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of State each to designate a liaison for the voluntary return of tangible cultural heritage, and requires the Secretary of the Interior to refer individuals and organizations to Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations for voluntary returns.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 6","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#H00136C5ED4574ED1BD94308486EAD57D:~:text=6.%20Voluntary%20return%20of%20tangible%20cultural%20heritage"}},{"text":"Requires the Secretary of the Interior to convene a Native working group of not fewer than 12 representatives of Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations, which may make recommendations on voluntary return and on eliminating illegal commerce in cultural items and archaeological resources.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 8","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#HB73420C144ED42E7A0F6B299FE534D18:~:text=8.%20Native%20working%20group"}}],"unexpected":[{"category":"off_subject","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#HF6B93A9070374AE8B14EBD8093FCE0D3"},"heading":"Purposes","effect":"The purposes section includes a stated purpose to encourage buyers to purchase legal contemporary art made by Native artists for commercial purposes, a subject separate from export bans, certification, and returns.","amount":null,"quote":"to encourage buyers to purchase legal contemporary art made by Native artists for commercial purposes."},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 9","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#HF987F167A6474FA7BAFC213B0B4BD9CC:~:text=9.%20Treatment%20under%20Freedom%20of%20Information%20Act"},"heading":"Treatment under Freedom of Information Act","effect":"Exempts certain information submitted under the Act, including information on items for which an export certification is denied, from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.","amount":null,"quote":"Information that any person submits to a Federal agency pursuant to this Act or an amendment made by this Act that relates to an item for which an export certification is denied under this Act."},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 12","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#HB90C191E17264DF3AF06F7701C43B7DD:~:text=12.%20Determination%20of%20budgetary%20effects"},"heading":"Determination of budgetary effects","effect":"Sets how the budgetary effects of the Act are determined for Statutory Pay-As-You-Go purposes, by reference to a statement printed in the Congressional Record.","amount":null,"quote":"The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement"}]},{"category":"selective_carve_out","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 8","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr#HB73420C144ED42E7A0F6B299FE534D18:~:text=8.%20Native%20working%20group"},"heading":"Native working group","effect":"Exempts the Native working group from the Federal Advisory Committee Act, a law that would otherwise apply to advisory committees.","amount":null,"quote":"The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Native working group convened under subsection (a)."}]}],"version":{"type":"Enrolled Bill","date":null,"rule":"enrolled","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text/enr"},"current":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","approved":"2026-10-15","approved_by":"checks"},"sources":{"congress_gov":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2930/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/117-hr-2930.png","v":"3bd8790ca6d5","alt":"Votes on Record. H.R. 2930, 117th Congress: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021. House: 364 Yea, 57 Nay. Senate: unanimous consent. Outcome: Became law, 21 Dec 2022."}}