In the Senate, I introduced a resolution that strongly condemns the theft, illegal possession or sale and export of tribal cultural items.

We must do more to provide an excellent education and quality health care for our tribal members.

In New Mexico, we have a rich cultural history rooted in Native American tradition. It is the bedrock of who we are as New Mexicans.

These items are not pieces of art--they are spiritual objects--deeply important for tribal identity.

They succeeded.

I'm happy to help on the appropriations side where I serve as the ranking member at this point on the subcommittee with the Interior Department Bureau and the Indian Affairs.

We're in the process of working through that with our partners.

And we encourage the United States to get behind tribes and ensure that they can represent themselves at those meetings.

We all need to take all possible action to stop the latter and to help repatriate stolen culturally significant items to their rightful owners.

I'm also proud to welcome growing bipartisan support for this legislation in the United States Senate.

Today the Committee will hold an oversight hearing on the theft, illegal possession, sale and transfer and export of tribal cultural items.

Well, we really appreciate your efforts and, as you know, the Acoma Shield is one of the many instances where the deeply important cultural items have been sold internationally.

This is a problem that affects all of us, and we need to work collectively to put a stop to it.

I'm proud of my work with tribes in New Mexico and across Indian Country to craft this legislation.

I think it's very important, Senators, to ensure that Native Nations have that opportunity as indigenous governments to represent themselves at the UN.

Thank you very much, Dr. Schaaf. Really appreciate it.

this is incredibly important to protect tribal identity for future generations.

Thank you, Ms. Keeler. And I thank all the witnesses today for their testimony.