Peter Roskam: “The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating) has done good work here and we are deeply appreciative, and I think all…”

“The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating) has done good work here and we are deeply appreciative, and I think all Americans are when they learn about what is in this piece of legislation. It enjoys broad bipartisan support, and I am here to urge its passage. Let me tell you briefly about it. The Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act is a key component in the fight against terrorism. This bill will allow us to launch a strategic blow to ISIS by cutting off one of their main fundraising sources. ISIS and their network loot and smuggle artifacts from world heritage sites and sell them on the black market to fund their terrorist activities. We can and we must put an end to this. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for detecting and collecting stolen artifacts from the U.S., but illegal trade of valuable artifacts continues to grow, and much more needs to be done to address this very serious problem. That is where Mr. Keating and this bill come into play. This bill creates a clear U.S. policy to stop and prevent the trafficking of historic artifacts by providing the U.S. Government with the tools it needs to effectively detain, seize, and investigate historic objects that are illegally imported into the U.S.…”