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

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

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

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.

Thank you very much.

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

We urge you to take advantage of this opportunity. The Navajo Nation and Indian Country are grateful for your service and long-term vision and wisdom on this matter.

While we must improve Federal law to create stronger legal deterrence, we also need to change the hearts and minds of art collectors and dealers who may have engaged in this activity.

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

That Shield belongs to the Pueblo of Acoma. Inherently, it belongs to us.

It's always good to have more hands, although, I would not represent that necessarily as a Departmental position.

One of them was changing the legal definition of provenance or ownership, do you have specific language in mind for that?

It would prohibit the exporting of sacred Native American items and increase penalties for stealing and illegally trafficking tribal patrimony.

I take my responsibility for representing Indian Country in Washington very seriously.

Would there be changes to NAGPRA that would result in more cases being prosecuted specifically under that statute...

A statute that's designed to meet the needs or to address the crime at-hand would be better.

I think that's an important distinction. I think both of us would love to work with you on that front.

I take great pride in working with New Mexico's tribal communities.