ARTIST Act
Sponsored By: Representative Begich
In Committee
Summary
Creates a federal exemption allowing Alaska Native artisans to use walrus, narwhal, and whale ivory in traditional handicrafts and to sell those items across state lines. It defines what counts as an authentic Alaska Native article and restricts mass-produced copies.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Limits on Alaska Native takings
If enacted, the Secretary would be able to prescribe rules that limit takings by qualifying Alaska Natives when the Secretary determines a marine species or stock is depleted. Those rules could be tailored by species or stock, geographic area, season, or other related factors, must follow a public notice and hearing, and must be removed when no longer needed. If an Alaska Native organization brings an action, the Secretary would have to put in writing and post on the Secretary's website that any regulation, depletion finding, assessment, or unmitigable adverse impact finding is supported by substantial evidence considering the whole record, including Indigenous knowledge.
New rules for Alaska Native crafts
If enacted, an Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo who lives on Alaska's North Pacific or Arctic coast would be allowed to take marine mammals for subsistence or to make and sell authentic Alaska Native handicrafts, as long as the taking is not wasteful. Items presented as authentic would be sellable across state lines only if they meet the bill's definition of "authentic" (natural materials, traditional methods, qualifying maker, and no mass-copying devices). Any edible portion taken mainly to make such handicrafts would be sellable only in a native village or town in Alaska or for native consumption. States would be barred from banning import, sale, transfer, trade, barter, or possession of marine mammal ivory, bone, or baleen when those parts are part of such authentic Alaska Native items.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Begich
AK • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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