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HR 4527 108th Congress House

Enhanced Protection of Our Cultural Heritage Act

Official title: To enhance the criminal penalties for illegal trafficking of archaeological resources, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 8, 2004 Introduced by: Pallone, Frank Democratic · New Jersey See on congress.gov
Arts, Culture, Religion ArchaeologyCemeteries and funeralsCrime and Law EnforcementCultural property
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Destruction of propertyEmbezzlementExcavationFines (Penalties)HistoryIndian landsLarcenyMinoritiesNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesReceiving stolen goodsSentences (Criminal procedure)
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 28, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jun 10, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
Jun 10, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
Jun 8, 2004
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Resources, 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.
Jun 8, 2004
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 28, 2004

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Enhanced Protection of Our Cultural Heritage Act - Amends the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 to increase penalties for violating, or counseling, procuring, soliciting, or employing another to violate prohibitions regarding: (1) unauthorized excavation, removal, damage, alteration, or defacement of archaeological resources; (2) trafficking in archaeological resources the excavation or removal of which was wrongful under Federal law; and (3) trafficking in interstate or foreign commerce in archaeological resources the excavation, removal, sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, or receipt of which was wrongful under State or local law.

Amends the Federal criminal code to increase penalties for: (1) embezzlement and theft from Indian tribal organizations; and (2) illegal trafficking in Native American human remains and cultural items.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1271 Related bill Enhanced Protection of Our Cultural Heritage Act of 2003
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4527: Enhanced Protection of Our Cultural Heritage Act. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4527/
MLA
"H.R. 4527: Enhanced Protection of Our Cultural Heritage Act." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4527/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4527, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4527/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4527: Enhanced Protection of Our Cultural Heritage Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4527/)
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