This week, the House Natural Resources Committee held a markup hearing on several bills, including legislation that impacts cultural heritage and public lands. The committee voted by unanimous consent to advance the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act, or STOP Act (H.R 2930, S. 1471). This important bill, introduced by Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), aims to help protect Native American cultural items by strengthening laws to prevent trafficking. The bill also encourages the voluntary return of sacred and cultural items. Preservation Action supports this important bill and encourages you to reach out to your Representatives and Senators and urge them to support the STOP Act today!
Additionally, the committee advanced H.R. 1286, introduced by Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), which would establish the Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Corridor, connecting several sites in South Carolina and North Carolina important to the often overlooked southern campaign during the Revolutionary War. The committee also advanced bills that would establish 3 new National Heritage Areas, the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Act, the Nation's Oldest Port National Heritage Area Act in Florida, and the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area Act. Check out the Alliance of National Heritage Areas to learn more about their advocacy efforts to pass National Heritage Area program legislation and find out how you can help.
Preservation Action thanks the committee for holding this important hearing.
Watch the hearing:
https://naturalresources.house.gov/hearings/remote-fc-markup-notice-101321
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