Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021
| Date | Chamber | What was voted on | Result | Yes–No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2, 2021 | House · vote #401 | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended | Passed | 364–57 | See who voted → |
Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.
Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021
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.
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.
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.
Additionally, Interior must
- refer individuals and organizations to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to facilitate the voluntary return of human remains and cultural items;
- convene an interagency working group; and
- 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.
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.
Became Public Law No: 117-258.
- Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Enrolled Bill Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Public Law Formatted Text PDF United States Legislative Markup
- Received in Senate Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Reported in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2930: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2930/
"H.R. 2930: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2930/.
H.R. 2930, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2930/.
[H.R. 2930: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2930/)