Cultural Property Preservation
More on Cultural Property Preservation
Sep 20, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following remarks in support of the Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act (H.R.2285):
Aug 18, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today welcomed the U.S. Department of State’s announcement of emergency import restrictions of cultural heritage items originating in Syria. These restrictions were required by Rep. Engel’s Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act (PL 114-151), signed by the President in May, which took steps to undermine antiquities looting and trafficking as a funding source for terrorist groups and ramped up U.S. efforts to protect cultural property worldwide.
Aug 15, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today welcomed the release of a new report he requested from the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the protection of cultural antiquities looted from Iraq and Syria. The report shows how the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act (PL 114-151), which Rep. Engel authored and which the President signed in May, will help to address the problem of looted antiquities being trafficked on the black market to finance terrorism. The report also provides strong support for implementing the law’s recommended whole-of-government approach to address looting.
Apr 26, 2016
Press Release
Deny ISIS Funding & Save Syria’s Antiquities
The Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act
(H.R. 1493)
ISIS Profits from Destroying World History
Apr 26, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today welcomed final House passage of his legislation to crack down on the sale of artifacts looted by ISIS from cultural sites in Syria. The Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act would contribute to the comprehensive policy of degrading and destroying ISIS without risking American lives or costing American taxpayers.
Apr 26, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today delivered the following remarks in the United State House of Representatives on his legislation to crack down on the sale of artifacts looted by ISIS from cultural sites in Syria. The Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act has bene approved by both Houses of Congress and will now go the President for signature:
Apr 14, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today welcomed Senate passage of his legislation to crack down on the financing of terrorism through antiquities looting. The Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act (H.R.1493) would impose tough new import restrictions on looted Syrian artifacts and ramp up efforts to protect cultural property from conflicts around the world.
Oct 28, 2015
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today delivered the following remarks calling for Senate action on the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act at an event focused on the looting and destruction of cultural antiquities in Syria and Iraq by ISIS terrorists:
Oct 28, 2015
Press Release
Click here for a fact sheet on H.R. 1493, the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act, introduced by Rep. Engel along with Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. William R. Keating (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, and Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chair of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.
Sep 29, 2015
In The News
Ancient history is being dug up from the ground in Syria and sold to help fund ISIS.
A bill that could help curb ISIS profiting from these artifacts passed in the US House of Representatives in June, but is still sitting in the Senate.