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. 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 are currently involved in organizing a coalition of preservationist organizations to urge the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to take up ratification of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. You may access LCCHP position statements and comment letters here.

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 Supports China's Request for an Agreement with the United States — by Patty Gerstenblith — last modified 11-13-2007 12:39 PM

China has submitted a request for a bilateral agreement with the United States to restrict the import into the United States of undocumented archaeological materials. LCCHP submitted a letter to the U.S. State Department Cultural Property Advisory Committee in support of China's request.

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).