H.R. 4131 – Reading Mode

114th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4131

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 30, 2015

Mr. Heck of Washington (for himself, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Kildee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To direct the Chief of Engineers to transfer an archaeological collection, commonly referred to as the Kennewick Man or the Ancient One, to the Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Bring the Ancient One Home Act of 2015.

Transfer of human remains

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Claimant tribes

The term claimant tribes means the Indian tribes and band referred to in the letter from Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt to Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera, relating to the human remains and dated September 21, 2000.

(2)

Department

The term Department means the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

(3)

Human remains

The term human remains means the human remains—

(A)

that are known as Kennewick Man or the Ancient One, which includes the projectile point lodged in the right ilium bone, as well as any residue from previous sampling and studies; and

(B)

that are part of archaeological collection number 45BN495.

(b)

Transfer

Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal law or law of the State of Washington, including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall transfer the human remains to the Department, on the condition that the Department, acting through the State Historic Preservation Officer, disposes of the remains and repatriates the remains to claimant tribes.

(c)

Cost

The Corps of Engineers shall be responsible for any costs associated with the transfer.

(d)

Limitations

(1)

In general

The transfer shall be limited solely to the human remains portion of the archaeological collection.

(2)

Corps of Engineers

The Corps of Engineers shall have no further responsibility for the human remains transferred pursuant to subsection (b) after the date of the transfer.