H.R. 2285Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act

1 recorded action126 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: William R. Keating [D-MA-09]
Cosponsors: 19 · 12 Democrats · 7 Republicans
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Committees: Ways and Means Committee, Homeland Security Committee · and 2 more
Latest action: Sep 26, 2016 · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

IntroducedMay 13, 2015
Passed the HouseSep 22, 2016
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

(Sec. 3) This bill declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) ensure that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components enhance and unify their efforts to interdict, detain, seize, and investigate cultural property illegally imported into the United States, disrupt and dismantle smuggling and trafficking networks engaged in or facilitating illegal trade in cultural property, and support prosecutions of persons engaged in such illegal trade; and (2) protect cultural property pursuant to obligations under international conventions.

(Sec. 4) It directs the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to: (1) designate a principal coordinator to direct, manage, coordinate, and update policies and procedures, and conduct interagency communications, regarding illegally imported cultural property; (2) update and devise directives, regulations, rules, and memoranda of understanding relating to policies and procedures on the illegal importation of cultural property; and (3) train relevant personnel on cultural property laws, identification of at-risk items, and investigative techniques with respect to illegally traded cultural property.

(Sec. 5) DHS must authorize relevant component heads to enter into agreements or memoranda of understanding with the Smithsonian Institution to further activities to protect cultural property.

(Sec. 6) The CBP and ICE must jointly report to Congress on implementation of this bill and other actions to prevent the illegal importation of cultural property into the United States.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 2285 as passed House amended on Sep 22, 2016. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 547

House Sep 22, 2016

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act

Passed · Two-thirds required

415 Yea 0 Nay 16 not voting

Crossed both parties No voting member broke with their own party.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

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DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

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All members431 members

Democratic186 members

Republican245 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors19 · 12 Democrats · 7 Republicans

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 2285 and vote against it. 2 signed when it was filed.

Who lobbied on H.R. 22851 organization

Organizations that named H.R. 2285 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

SOTHEBY'Sfiled by PODESTA GROUP, INC.

Arts/Entertainment · Copyright/Patent/Trademark2 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

2 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.