Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Clarification Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
Within 180 days, the Secretary of State must work with the Secretary of the Interior on appropriate bilateral procedures with Japan, as necessary, to clarify the treatment of qualifying Alaska Native handicrafts offered for sale. Interior may amend implementing regulations consistently with the treaty and in consultation with Japan, the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council and Pacific Flyway Council, coordinating with Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement. The reported bill replaces an earlier broad statutory commerce exemption covering four treaties with this narrower process.
Who Benefits and How
Alaska Native handicraft producers and their community members could gain clearer, treaty-consistent rules for lawful sales. Collectors and resale businesses may gain clearer authenticity and consignment rules if Interior adopts them. Eligible articles must use substantial natural materials and traditional handicraft methods without mass copying. Tribal enrollment, a Bureau of Indian Affairs CDIB or a Silver Hand permit verifies the defined Alaska Native status.
Who Bears the Burden and How
State Department officials and Interior officials must carry out bilateral work and outreach. Producers remain subject to the resulting rules; the reported bill does not itself grant the introduced text's blanket possession, sale and transport exception. Items containing parts taken illegally or wastefully do not qualify. Interior may remove species showing significant declines or listed as Birds of Conservation Concern. Those safeguards may limit available materials and sales even after clarification.
Key Provisions
- Requires appropriate bilateral clarification with Japan within 180 days.
- Authorizes treaty-consistent regulations on authenticity, consignment, resale and conservation safeguards after consultation.
- Limits qualifying handicrafts to defined Alaska Native traditional work and excludes illegally or wastefully taken parts.
- Requires outreach with the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council about applicable sale rules.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Seek treaty-consistent clarification with Japan for sales of authentic Alaska Native handicrafts containing nonedible migratory bird parts.
Key Policy Areas
Tribal Affairs, Environment, International Affairs
Primary Purpose
Seek treaty-consistent clarification with Japan for sales of authentic Alaska Native handicrafts containing nonedible migratory bird parts.
Policy Domains
Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Clarification Act
Identified Gains
- Alaska Native handicraft producer community members
- Handicraft collectors
Identified Costs
- Department of State
- Department of the Interior
- Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement officers
Legislative Progress
ReportedReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to …
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without …
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without …
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, …
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules …
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate …
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5564-5566)
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the …
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 675.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Alaska Native handicraft producers
Alaska Native handicraft producers faces effects in multiple directions
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "state"
- → Secretary of State
- "flyway"
- → Pacific Flyway Council
- "council"
- → Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council
- "foreign"
- → Japan
- "interior"
- → Secretary of the Interior
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology