For Immediate Release 
Contact: Peter Karafotas (202) 225-3611
   

Republican sponsored amendment passes house–waives federal requirements that protect Native American human remains, cultural items, and sacred sites

Washington, D.C.—Today, the House of Representatives passed an amendment by a vote of 256-160, with 215 of 221 Republicans voting for the amendment that could lead to the desecration and destruction of Native American human remains, cultural items and sacred sites in the San Diego, California area. This provision will be included in the H.R. 10 - 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act.

The amendment, sponsored by Congressman Doug Ose (R-CA), allows for the continuation of construction of a security barrier in south San Diego and waives the requirements of several laws and mandates including four that specifically and directly impact Indian tribes. These laws include: the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990, the 1996 Executive Order 13007 on Sacred Sites and the Archeological Resources Protection Act Amendments of 1979. Waiving these requirements will preclude tribal and archeological notice and consultation if Native American graves are inadvertently or deliberately disturbed or if human remains are disinterred.

"By enacting federal laws and implementing federal mandates, we promised Native Americans that we would protect and preserve their places of worship, resting places for the deceased and religious freedom. This amendment breaks that promise by not providing any mechanism for notice or consultation upon finding any cultural, ceremonial or historical sites," said Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI).