Advocacy

The Lawyers’ Committee is engaged in advocacy work in the cause of cultural heritage preservation. To that end, we submit comments on pending federal and state legislation that may have an impact on cultural heritage, such as historic preservation legislation, and join other preservationist organizations in submitting amicus briefs in cases involving cultural heritage issues. We also comment on proposed bilateral agreements between the United States and other countries that would restrict the import of undocumented archaeological and ethnological materials. We organized a coalition of preservationist organizations and submitted written testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urging ratification of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The Senate voted in September 2008 to ratify the Convention. You may access LCCHP position statements and comment letters here.

Amicus Curiae Brief in Bakalar v. Vavra — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 03-18-2009 09:45 AM

The Lawyers Committee joined several other organizations in submitting an amicus curiae brief in Bakalar v Vavra, a case involving a claimant's attempt to recover art works taken during the Holocaust. The amicus brief addressed the interpretation of the Swiss good faith purchaser doctrine in determining a transaction in Switzerland allegedly transferring title to the art works.

LCCHP Joins Amicus Curiae Brief — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 03-16-2009 08:41 PM

LCCHP recently joined an amicus curiae brief submitted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Western Watersheds Project v. Bureau of Land Management. The case involves the scope of the President's authority to include management directives in a proclamation declaring national monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906.

Archeological Conservancy Brief of Amici Curiae — by admin — last modified 02-11-2009 03:26 PM

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Society for American Archaeology, the Archaeological Institute of America, and the Lawyers' Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation submitted an amicus curiae brief in support of the Archaeological Conservancy in a dispute concerning Texas land with an archaeologically significant site.

U.S. and China Sign Agreement Imposing Import Restrictions on Archaeological Materials from China — by admin — last modified 02-12-2009 03:48 PM

In 2004, China submitted a request to the United States for import restrictions on archaeological materials, pursuant to the 1970 UNESCO Convention and the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act...

Statement in Support of U.S. Ratification of the 1954 Hague Convention — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 09-25-2008 11:30 PM

The following statement was submitted by the Lawyers Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation, the U.S. Committee for the Blue Shield, the Archaeological Institute of America and twelve other cultural preservation organizations to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in support of ratification. On September 25, 2008, the U.S. Senate voted to give its advice and consent to U.S. ratification of the treaty.

LCCHP Supports Extension of U.S.-Cambodia Bilateral Agreement — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 03-15-2008 03:56 PM

LCCHP submitted the following statement to the Cultural Property Advisory Committee in support of the bilateral agreement between the United States and Cambodia that restricts the import into the United States of undocumented archaeological materials. More information may be found at: www.exchanges.state.gov/culprop.

LCCHP Urges Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Schedule Hearings on 1954 Hague Convention — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 11-13-2007 12:23 PM

LCCHP submitted a letter to Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair, Senator Joseph Biden, to schedule hearings on the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

Letter in Support of Extension of US-Peru Memorandum of Understanding — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 11-13-2007 12:35 PM

Peru has requested an extension of the agreement between the United States and Peru that restricts the import of designated categories of Pre-Columbian archaeological materials and Spanish Colonial ethnological materials. LCCHP submitted a letter in support of extension to the US Department of State Cultural Property Advisory Committee.

Letter in Support of Extension of US-Cyprus Memorandum of Understanding — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 11-13-2007 12:35 PM

Cyprus has requested an extension of the agreement between the United States and Cyprus that restricts the import of designated categories of Pre-Classical and Classical archaeological materials and Byzantine ecclesiastical ethnological materials. LCCHP submitted a letter in support of extension to the US Department of State Cultural Property Advisory Committee.

Letter in Support of Amendment of US-Cyprus Memorandum of Understanding — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 11-13-2007 12:36 PM

Cyprus requested that ancient coins be included as a designated category of archaeological materials whose import into the United States would be subject to import restriction in the extension and amendment of its bilateral agreement. LCCHP submitted a letter in support of this amendment to the US Department of State Cultural Property Advisory Committee.

Letter in Support of Extension of US-Italy Memorandum of Understanding — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 11-13-2007 12:36 PM

Italy requested an extension of the agreement between the United States and Italy that restricts the import of designated categories of Pre-Classical and Classical archaeological materials. LCCHP submitted a letter in support of extension to the US Department of State Cultural Property Advisory Committee.

US Conducts Interim Review of US-Italy Memorandum of Understanding — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 11-13-2007 12:37 PM

The Cultural Property Advisory Committee conducted its review of the US-Italy agreement that restricts import of designated categories of Pre-Classical, Etruscan and Classical antiquities into the United States. LCCHP submitted a letter to the US Department of State Cultural Property Advisory Committee at the time of the review.

LCCHP Opposes Amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 11-13-2007 12:26 PM

LCCHP submitted testimony to the National Parks Subcommittee of the US House of Representatives Committee on Resources in opposition to the proposed National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 2005.

LCCHP Opposes Amendments to the Utah State Antiquities and Historic Sites Act — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 03-15-2008 03:56 PM

LCCHP submitted a letter to the Utah state legislature in opposition to proposed legislation to amend the Utah State Antiquities and Historic Sites Act (H.B. 139).

China Import Restrictions — by admin — last modified 02-12-2009 03:46 PM