# 115-hr-3211: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2017

115-hr-3211, Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2017, is a 115th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-3211
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 115-hr-3211
- Congress: 115
- Title: Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2017
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
- Introduced: 2017-07-12
- Sponsor: Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Policy area: Native Americans
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to double the maximum prison term (from 5 years to 10 years) for persons convicted of selling, purchasing, using for profit, or transporting for sale or profit the human remains of Native Americans or cultural items obtained in violation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The bill prohibits the export of Native American cultural items that were obtained in violation of the Act, Native American archaeological resources that were obtained in violation of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, or Native American objects of antiquity that were obtained in violation of the criminal code. Violators may be subject to fines, imprisonment, or both. The Department of the Interior and the Department of State must each designate a liaison to facilitate and hold trainings and workshops on the voluntary return of human remains or cultural items. Interior must refer individuals and organizations to Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations to facilitate the voluntary return of human remains or cultural items. In addition, Interior must convene a tribal working group consisting of representatives of tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to provide advice on issues concerning the return of, and illegal trade in, human remains or cultural items.

## Cosponsors (5)

- Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2017-09-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (D-TX), 2017-10-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2017-10-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5] (D-MN), 2017-11-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. O'Halleran, Tom [D-AZ-1] (D-AZ), 2017-11-09T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 115-hr-6545: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2018
- 115-hr-6239: DISCLOSE Act of 2018
- 115-hr-6135: Keep Families Together Act
- 115-hr-6033: International Human Rights Defense Act of 2018
- 115-hr-4240: Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2017
- 115-hr-4007: To revise the quorum requirement for the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

## Sources
- [115-hr-3211 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3211)

## Related
- [115-hr-6545: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2018](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-6545)
- [115-hr-6239: DISCLOSE Act of 2018](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-6239)
- [115-hr-6135: Keep Families Together Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-6135)
- [115-hr-6033: International Human Rights Defense Act of 2018](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-6033)
- [115-hr-4240: Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2017](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-4240)
- [115-hr-4007: To revise the quorum requirement for the Board of Directors of the Export-Impor…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-4007)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-3211 (as of 2025-11-18).