H.R. 2285: Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act

114th Congress · introduced 2015-05-13 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2015-05-13 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 547 (2016): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR2285 (2016-09-22), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act

Plain summary

Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act (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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] · 19 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2285, Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act (2015-12-10); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2285, Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act (2016-09-19)

Cosponsors on this site

Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Andy Barr (R-KY), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), James P. McGovern (D-MA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] reported raising $553,690 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

House roll call 547 (2016): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR2285 (2016-09-22): Passed

Words on this page, explained (5)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr2285.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr2285 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114