H.R. 6021

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6021 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6021

To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to clarify the treatment of 
authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft containing nonedible 
migratory bird parts, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 12, 2025

Mr. Begich introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to clarify the treatment of 
authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft containing nonedible 
migratory bird parts, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird 
Treaty Amendment Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to clarify the treatment of authentic 
Alaska Native articles of handicraft (as defined in subsection (c)(1) 
of section 2 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703)) under--
(1) the Convention between the United States and Great 
Britain for the Protection of Migratory Birds, signed at 
Washington August 16, 1916 (39 Stat. 1702; USTS 628);
(2) the Convention between the United States and Mexico for 
the Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals, signed at 
Mexico City February 7, 1936 (50 Stat. 1311; USTS 912);
(3) the Convention between the United States and Japan for 
the Protection of Migratory Birds and Birds in Danger of 
Extinction and Their Environment, signed at Tokyo March 4, 1974 
(TIAS 7990); and
(4) the Convention between the United States and the Soviet 
Union Concerning the Conservation of Migratory Birds and Their 
Environment, signed at Moscow November 19, 1976 (TIAS 9073).

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION FOR ALASKA NATIVE ARTICLES CONTAINING MIGRATORY 
BIRD PARTS.

(a) In General.--Section 2 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 
U.S.C. 703) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Clarification for Authentic Alaska Native Articles of 
Handicraft.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Alaska native.--The term `Alaska Native' 
means a member of any Indian Tribe (as defined in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) that is 
based in the State of Alaska, as verified through 
issuance of--
``(i) a Tribal enrollment card;
``(ii) a Certificate of Degree of Indian 
Blood (commonly known as a `CDIB') by the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs; or
``(iii) a permit under the Silver Hand 
program of the Alaska State Council on the 
Arts.
``(B) Authentic alaska native article of 
handicraft.--
``(i) In general.--The term `authentic 
Alaska Native article of handicraft' means any 
item that is--
``(I) composed, wholly or in a 
significant respect, of natural 
materials that were found, foraged, or 
gifted; and
``(II) produced, decorated, or 
fashioned in significant part--
``(aa) by an Alaska Native;
``(bb) in the exercise of 
traditional Alaska Native 
handicrafts; and
``(cc) without the use of 
any mass copying device.
``(ii) Inclusions.--The term `authentic 
Alaska Native article of handicraft' includes--
``(I) any weaving, carving, 
stitching, sewing, lacing, beading, 
drawing, or painting that meets the 
criteria described in clause (i); and
``(II) any item, including 
clothing, described in subclause (I) 
that combines the techniques described 
in that subclause.
``(2) Clarification for certain authentic alaska native 
articles of handicraft.--Subject to paragraph (3) and 
notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, nothing in 
this Act prohibits the possession, offering for sale, sale, 
offering to barter, barter, offering to purchase, purchase, 
delivery for shipment, shipment, causing to be shipped or 
delivered for transportation, transport, causing to be 
transported, carrying, causing to be carried, or receiving for 
shipment, transportation, or carriage of any authentic Alaska 
Native article of handicraft on the basis that the authentic 
Alaska Native article of handicraft contains a nonedible 
migratory bird part.
``(3) Limitation.--This subsection does not apply to an 
authentic Alaska Native article of handicraft containing a part 
of a migratory bird that was taken in a wasteful or illegal 
manner.''.
(b) Administration.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act--
(1) the Secretary of State shall work with the Secretary of 
the Interior to enter into appropriate bilateral procedures, as 
necessary, with countries that are parties to the treaties 
described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 2 to clarify 
the treatment of authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft 
(as defined in subsection (c)(1) of section 2 of the Migratory 
Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703)) containing nonedible migratory 
bird parts from the species of migratory birds listed in those 
treaties in accordance with the amendments made by subsection 
(a); and
(2) the Secretary of the Interior shall modify any 
regulations implementing the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 
U.S.C. 703 et seq.), as appropriate, to implement the 
amendments made by this Act.
(c) Technical Amendment.--Section 2(a) of the Migratory Bird Treaty 
Act (16 U.S.C. 703) is amended by inserting a comma after ``March 4, 
1972''.
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