This bill revises certain provisions related to the repatriation and disposition of Native American human remains, funerary objects, cultural patrimony, and sacred objects.
Specifically, the bill (1) increases fines on museums that violate repatriation and disposition requirements, (2) makes the Bureau of Indian Affairs the enforcement office for such violations, and (3) deems information that is related to the fulfillment of repatriation and disposition obligations or submitted to the review committee as confidential.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8298 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8298
To amend the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act to
move the enforcement office to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to
increase the civil monetary penalties for failure to follow the
processes established by that Act, to protect confidential information,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 17, 2020
Ms. Haaland (for herself, Mr. Cole, and Ms. McCollum) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act to
move the enforcement office to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to
increase the civil monetary penalties for failure to follow the
processes established by that Act, to protect confidential information,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NATIVE AMERICAN GRAVES PROTECTION AND REPATRIATION ACT
AMENDMENTS.
(a) Civil Penalties.--Section 9 of the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3007 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``in which the
petitioning party and the aggrieved party are each entitled to
notice and an opportunity to be heard'' after ``agency
hearing''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``determined under
regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act, taking into
account, in addition to other factors'' and inserting ``5
percent of the museum's annual budget, or $25,000, whichever is
less, for each substantiated failure to comply, and such
additional sums as the Secretary may determine under
regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act, taking into
account other factors, including--''.
(b) Enforcement Office.--Section 15 of the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) is amended as
follows:
(1) By striking ``The United States'' and inserting the
following:
``(a) Court of Jurisdiction.--The United States''.
(2) By adding at the end the following:
``(b) Office of Enforcement.--The Office of the Assistant
Secretary, Bureau of Indian Affairs, shall be the office for
enforcement and other activities delegated by the Secretary under this
Act.''.
(c) Confidential Information.--The Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 15 the following:
``SEC. 16. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
``(a) Fulfillment of Obligations.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, all information related to the fulfillment of
obligations imposed by this Act, regardless of form, shall be deemed
confidential and not subject to public disclosure by the Secretary, a
museum, or a Federal agency, unless such disclosure is required to
fulfill an obligation imposed by this Act or regulations promulgated
thereto.
``(b) Submitted to the Review Committee.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, all information submitted to the Review Committee by
an affected party seeking findings or resolution of disputes pursuant
to section 8(c)(3) and (4) shall be deemed confidential and not subject
to public disclosure by the Review Committee, if the affected party
indicates upon submission that such information shall be kept
confidential.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
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