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HR 3211 115th Congress House Native Americans Advisory bodies Alaska Natives and Hawaiians Archaeology and anthropology Cemeteries and funerals Federal-Indian relations Historical and cultural resources Smuggling and trafficking

Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2017

Introduced: July 12, 2017 Introduced by: Luján, Ben Ray Democratic · New Mexico See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 3, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Jul 24, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
Jul 12, 2017
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Natural 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.
Jul 12, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2017

This bill amends the federal criminal code to double the maximum prison term (from 5 years to 10 years) for persons convicted of selling, purchasing, using for profit, or transporting for sale or profit the human remains of Native Americans or cultural items obtained in violation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

The bill prohibits the export of Native American cultural items that were obtained in violation of the Act, Native American archaeological resources that were obtained in violation of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, or Native American objects of antiquity that were obtained in violation of the criminal code. Violators may be subject to fines, imprisonment, or both.

The Department of the Interior and the Department of State must each designate a liaison to facilitate and hold trainings and workshops on the voluntary return of human remains or cultural items.

Interior must refer individuals and organizations to Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations to facilitate the voluntary return of human remains or cultural items.

In addition, Interior must convene a tribal working group consisting of representatives of tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to provide advice on issues concerning the return of, and illegal trade in, human remains or cultural items.

What's happening now August 3, 2017

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

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1400 Identical bill Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2017
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3211: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3211/
MLA
"H.R. 3211: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3211/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3211, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3211/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3211: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3211/)
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