§2605 Cultural Property Advisory Committee

Summary

Creates a Cultural Property Advisory Committee of eleven people picked by the President. Two must represent museums, three must be experts in archaeology/anthropology/ethnology (or related fields), three must know the international trade in such cultural items, and three must speak for the general public. Members serve three-year terms and can be reappointed. For the first group, four serve three years, four serve two years, and the other three serve one year. Vacancies are filled for the rest of the term. The President picks a chair. Members are paid back for actual expenses. Six members make a quorum, and decisions pass by a majority of those voting. The Director of the United States Information Agency provides staff help, other agencies may lend staff if asked, and meetings happen when the Director calls them or a majority requests one in writing. The Committee must investigate requests from foreign governments and write reports that give findings and recommendations about agreements, extensions, or emergency actions. Reports must list reasons, suggested terms, and the types of cultural material to cover. Dissenting members can add a written statement. The Committee reviews existing agreements and can tell the President and Congress if rules should be suspended or changed. Federal public-meeting rules mostly apply, but the President (or a designee) may keep meetings or documents closed if revealing them would hurt U.S. negotiating positions. Confidential business or government information given to the Committee stays private except for designated U.S. officials, certain congressional committee members and staff, and Committee members. Committee members may not personally negotiate agreements unless they already have permission to do so.