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HR 1493 114th Congress House International Affairs Advisory bodies Archaeology and anthropology Conflicts and wars Congressional oversight Crimes against property Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Department of State Executive agency funding and structure Federal officials Foreign aid and international relief Historical and cultural resources International law and treaties Middle East Organized crime Smithsonian Institution Smuggling and trafficking Syria Trade restrictions

Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act

Introduced: March 19, 2015 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 28 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 9, 2016
Signed by President.
May 9, 2016
Became Public Law No: 114-151.
Apr 29, 2016
Presented to President.
Apr 26, 2016
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Apr 26, 2016
On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H1984-1985)
Apr 26, 2016
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.(text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H1984-1985)
Apr 26, 2016
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 40 minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1493.
Apr 26, 2016
Mr. Royce moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H1984-1987)
Apr 14, 2016
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Apr 13, 2016
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Apr 13, 2016
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Apr 13, 2016
The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent. (text of committee substitute as amended: CR S2062-2063)
Apr 13, 2016
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2062-2063)
Feb 2, 2016
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Feb 2, 2016
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 360.
Jan 28, 2016
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jun 2, 2015
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Jun 1, 2015
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3627-3629)
Jun 1, 2015
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3627-3629)
Jun 1, 2015
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1493.
Jun 1, 2015
Mr. Chabot moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jun 1, 2015
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3627-3632)
Jun 1, 2015
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Apr 23, 2015
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Apr 23, 2015
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 27, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Mar 19, 2015
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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 19, 2015
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on April 13, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act

(Sec. 2) This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the President should establish an interagency coordinating committee to coordinate and advance executive branch efforts to protect and preserve international cultural property at risk from political instability, armed conflict, or natural or other disasters.

(Sec. 3) The President shall apply specified import restrictions with respect to any archaeological or ethnological material of Syria:

  • within 90 days;
  • without regard to whether Syria is a state party to the convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export, and transfer of ownership of cultural property (adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization); and
  • notwithstanding the requirement that an emergency condition applies.

The President shall at least once a year determine whether at least one of the following conditions is met: (1) Syria is incapable of fulfilling the requirements to request an agreement pursuant to the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act, and (2) it would be against the U.S. national interest to enter into such an agreement.

The President may waive such import restrictions for specified cultural property if the President certifies to Congress that: (1) the foreign owner or custodian of the specified cultural property has requested that the property be temporarily located in the United States for protection purposes, (2) the property shall be returned upon request to the foreign owner or custodian, and (3) the grant of a waiver will not contribute to illegal trafficking in cultural property or financing of criminal or terrorist activities.

Any archaeological or ethnological material that enters the United States pursuant to a waiver shall have immunity from seizure under P.L. 89-259 (which provides immunity from seizure for cultural items imported for temporary exhibition.)

(Sec. 4) The President shall report annually to Congress on executive branch efforts to protect and preserve international cultural property.

What's happening now May 9, 2016

Became Public Law No: 114-151.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 3 Republican 1