US Codex
Bill
Notes

H.R. 2285 — what changed

Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 3 sections amended between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Sec. 3 Statement of policy

It shall be the policy of the United States to—

(1)
changed ensure the components of the Department of Homeland Security, specifically U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), enhances Security enhance and unifies its unify efforts to—
(A)
interdict, detain, seize, and investigate cultural property illegally imported into the United States;
(B)
changed disrupt and dismantle smuggling and trafficking networks and transnational criminal organizations engaged in, conspiring to engage in, or facilitating illegal trade in cultural property, including stolen antiquities used to finance terrorism; and
(C)
support Offices of United States Attorneys in prosecuting persons engaged in, conspiring to engage in, or facilitating illegal trade in cultural property; and
(2)
protect cultural property pursuant to its obligations under the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, and the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 2601–2613).

Sec. 4 Activities of the Department of Homeland Security

changed The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of CBP U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Director of ICE, as applicable, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shall—

(1)
changed direct CBP and ICE to each designate a principal coordinator or group of personnel within U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, respectively, to direct, manage, coordinate, and update their respective policies and procedures, as well as conduct interagency communications, regarding illegally imported cultural property;
(2)
changed direct CBP and ICE to each update existing directives, regulations, rules, and memoranda of understanding, understanding of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, respectively, and, if necessary, devise additional directives, regulations, rules, and memoranda of understanding, relating to policies and procedures on the illegal importation of cultural property in order to—
(A)
reflect changes in cultural property law, including changes and updates to relevant treaties, bilateral agreements, statutes, regulations, and case law that occurred subsequent to Customs Directive No. 5230–015, “Customs Directive on Detention and Seizure of Cultural Property”, dated April 18, 1991;
(B)
changed emphasize investigating, and providing support for investigations and prosecutions, of persons engaged in, conspiring to engage in, or facilitating the illegal importation of cultural property, including smugglers, dealers, buyers, money launderers, and any other parties, facilitators, and enablers; appropriate parties; and
(C)
changed provide for communication, coordination, communication and unity of effort coordination between relevant CBP U.S. Customs and ICE offices Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices, respectively, in investigating and supporting prosecutions of persons engaged in, conspiring to engage in, or facilitating the illegal importation of cultural property; and
(3)
changed ensure all relevant personnel within CBP U.S. Customs and ICE involved in interdicting Border Protection and investigating the illegal importation of cultural property U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, respectively, receive sufficient training in—
(A)
relevant cultural property laws;
(B)
changed the identification of cultural property from regions that are is at greatest risk of looting and trafficking; and
(C)
methods of interdiction and investigative techniques specifically related to illegal trade in cultural property.

Sec. 6 Report

changed Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and three years thereafter, the Secretary Commissioner of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commissioner of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shall jointly submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on—

(1)
the progress of the implementation of this Act; and
(2)
changed the Department’s other actions to enhance and unify its efforts to interdict, detain, seize, and investigate cultural property illegally imported into the United States, and investigate, disrupt, and dismantle smuggling and trafficking networks engaged in, conspiring to engage in, or facilitating the illegal importation of cultural property.