H.R. 2930 · 117th Congress

Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021

Introduced on Apr 30, 2021 by Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-3). 24 cosponsors, 6 of them from another party. Became Public Law 117-258.

Stage
Became law
Public Law 117-258
Introduced
Apr 30, 2021
Cosponsors
24
6 from the other party
Policy area
Native Americans
Open in the Congress explorerCongress.govAlert me

Progress

The furthest stage the measure reached. Simple and concurrent resolutions do not go to the President.

  1. Introduced
  2. Reported by committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Sent to the President
  6. Became law

Official title

To enhance protections of Native American tangible cultural heritage, and for other purposes.

Subjects

  • Administrative remedies
  • Advisory bodies
  • Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
  • Archaeology and anthropology
  • Cemeteries and funerals
  • Charitable contributions
  • Civil actions and liability
  • Crimes against property
  • Criminal procedure and sentencing
  • Customs enforcement
  • Department of the Interior
  • Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
  • Evidence and witnesses
  • Executive agency funding and structure
  • Federal-Indian relations
  • Government information and archives
  • Historical and cultural resources
  • Income tax deductions
  • International organizations and cooperation
  • Licensing and registrations
  • Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
  • Right of privacy
  • Smuggling and trafficking
  • Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
  • Trade restrictions
  • User charges and fees

Summary

By the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Dec 21, 2022). Public domain.

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.

Sponsor and cosponsors

Cosponsors by party as of the day they signed on. Original cosponsors signed on the day of introduction.

Teresa Leger FernandezD-NM-3Sponsor

Democrats · 18

Republicans · 6

Roll calls

Recorded votes on the measure. Most measures move by voice vote or unanimous consent, which record no individual positions.

  1. On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
    Dec 2, 2021· House· Passage· Passed 364–57

History

Every action as published, oldest first. Roll calls link to how each member voted.

  1. Apr 30, 2021Introduced in House
  2. Apr 30, 2021Introduced in House
  3. Apr 30, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
  4. Apr 30, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
  5. Apr 30, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
  6. May 20, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
  7. May 20, 2021 · HouseSubcommittee Hearings Held.
  8. Oct 13, 2021 · HouseSubcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States Discharged.
  9. Oct 13, 2021 · HouseCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  10. Oct 13, 2021 · HouseOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
  11. Nov 9, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  12. Dec 1, 2021Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-196, Part I.
  13. Dec 1, 2021 · HouseReported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-196, Part I.
  14. Dec 1, 2021Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
  15. Dec 1, 2021 · HouseCommittee on the Judiciary discharged.
  16. Dec 1, 2021Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.
  17. Dec 1, 2021 · HouseCommittee on Foreign Affairs discharged.
  18. Dec 1, 2021 · HousePlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 140.
  19. Dec 1, 2021 · HouseMs. Leger Fernandez moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  20. Dec 1, 2021 · HouseConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6727-6732)
  21. Dec 1, 2021 · HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2930.
  22. Dec 1, 2021 · HouseAt the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  23. Dec 2, 2021 · HouseConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6891-6892)
  24. Dec 2, 2021Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 364 - 57 (Roll no. 401).(text: 12/01/2021 CR H6727-6730)House · Roll call 401
  25. Dec 2, 2021 · HouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 364 - 57 (Roll no. 401). (text: 12/01/2021 CR H6727-6730)House · Roll call 401
  26. Dec 2, 2021 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  27. Dec 7, 2021 · SenateReceived in the Senate, read twice.
  28. Nov 29, 2022Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  29. Nov 29, 2022 · SenatePassed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6847-6848)
  30. Nov 30, 2022 · SenateMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
  31. Dec 16, 2022Presented to President.
  32. Dec 16, 2022 · HousePresented to President.
  33. Dec 21, 2022Signed by President.
  34. Dec 21, 2022Signed by President.
  35. Dec 21, 2022Became Public Law No: 117-258.
  36. Dec 21, 2022Became Public Law No: 117-258.

Committees

Committees and subcommittees the measure was referred to.

Agencies in its committees' jurisdiction

Analisa's mapping of committee jurisdiction to federal agencies; the bill may touch others, or none of these.

Sources and method

Every figure on this page traces to these records.

  • Bill status: bills and resolutions, sponsors, actions, subjects and CRS summaries (U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo), from Congress.gov (Library of Congress))GovInfo Bill Status bulk data (Congress.gov; summaries by the Congressional Research Service) · data current to Oct 6, 2026 · loaded Oct 6, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Members of Congress, their terms, committees and identifiers (The @unitedstates project (from the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, the House and the Senate))unitedstates/congress-legislators: legislators, committees and current committee membership · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication)
  • House roll-call votes (Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, roll-call vote records · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Senate roll-call votes and DW-NOMINATE scores (Voteview (UCLA Department of Political Science))Lewis, Jeffrey B., Keith Poole, Howard Rosenthal, Adam Boche, Aaron Rudkin, and Luke Sonnet (2026). Voteview: Congressional Roll-Call Votes Database. https://voteview.com/ · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Free to use with the required citation
  • Lobbying disclosures (LD-1 registrations, LD-2 quarterly reports, LD-203 contribution reports) (Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives)Clerk of the House, Lobbying Disclosure Act filings (organizations only; lobbyists' names are not loaded) · data current to Oct 6, 2026 · loaded Oct 6, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Positions are shown only where a roll call recorded them; voice votes and unanimous consent record none.