---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 3076"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "3076"
heading: "Native working group"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/3076"
units:
  - "Chapter 32B — Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony"
---

# §3076. Native working group

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/3072.md?p=9) shall convene a Native working group consisting of not fewer than 12 representatives of [Indian Tribes](/usc/25/3072.md?p=4) and [Native Hawaiian organizations](/usc/25/3072.md?p=8) with relevant expertise, who shall be nominated by [Indian Tribes](/usc/25/3072.md?p=4) and [Native Hawaiian organizations](/usc/25/3072.md?p=8), to advise the Federal Government in accordance with this section.
- (b) **Recommendations—** The Native working group convened under [subsection (a)](#a) may provide recommendations regarding—
  - (1) the voluntary return of [tangible cultural heritage](/usc/25/3072.md?p=10) by collectors, dealers, and other individuals and non-Federal organizations that hold such [tangible cultural heritage](/usc/25/3072.md?p=10); and
  - (2) the elimination of illegal commerce of [cultural items](/usc/25/3072.md?p=3) and [archaeological resources](/usc/25/3072.md?p=1) in the United States and foreign markets.
- (c) **Requests—** The Native working group convened under [subsection (a)](#a) may make formal requests to initiate certain agency actions, including requests that—
  - (1) the Department of Justice initiate judicial proceedings domestically or abroad to aid in the repatriation [cultural items](/usc/25/3072.md?p=3) and [archaeological resources](/usc/25/3072.md?p=1); and
  - (2) the Department of State initiate dialogue through diplomatic channels to aid in that repatriation.
- (d) **Agency and committee assistance—**
  - (1) **In general—** On request by the Native working group convened under [subsection (a)](#a), the agencies and committees described in [paragraph (2)](#d-2) shall make efforts to provide information and assistance to the Native working group.
  - (2) **Description of agencies and committees—** The agencies and committees referred to in [paragraph (1)](#d-1) are the following:
    - (A) The Department of the Interior.
    - (B) The Department of Justice.
    - (C) The Department of Homeland Security.
    - (D) The Department of State.
    - (E) The review committee established under [section 3006(a) of this title](/usc/25/3006.md?p=a).
    - (F) The Cultural Heritage Coordinating Committee established pursuant to [section 2](/usc/25/2.md) of the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act (Public Law 114–151; [19 U.S.C. 2601](/usc/19/2601.md) note).
    - (G) Any other relevant Federal agency, committee, or working group.
- (e) **Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act—** The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)[^1] shall not apply to the Native working group convened under [subsection (a)](#a).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–258, § 8, Dec. 21, 2022, 136 Stat. 2384.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is Pub. L. 92–463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, which was set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and was substantially repealed and restated in chapter 10 (§ 1001 et seq.) of Title 5 by Pub. L. 117–286, §§ 3(a), 7, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4197, 4361. For disposition of sections of the Act into chapter 10 of Title 5, see Disposition Table preceding section 101 of Title 5.