H.R. 6021 · Passed House · Native Americans

Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Clarification Act

Sponsor: Nicholas J. Begich III (R-AK)

What it does

• Permit Alaska Natives to possess, sell, barter, purchase, ship, and transport authentic handicrafts, clothing, and art containing nonedible migratory bird parts without violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, provided t
• Direct the State Department and Interior Department to negotiate bilateral procedures with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia to clarify how Alaska Native crafts containing migratory bird parts are treated under existing
• Require Interior to modify regulations implementing the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to align with the terms of this bill.

Official summary

Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act This bill states that nothing in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) prohibits possessing, selling, bartering, purchasing, shipping, or transporting any authentic Alaska Native handicraft, clothing, or art on the basis that it contains a nonedible migratory bird part, so long as the bird was not taken in a wasteful or illegal manner. (The MBTA implements four international treaties that the United States entered into with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia. The MBTA prohibits the taking of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization.) The bill directs the Department of State to work with the Department of the Interior to enter into appropriate bilateral procedures with countries that are parties to the treaties under the MBTA to clarify the treatment of Alaska Native handicraft containing nonedible migratory bird parts from the species of migratory birds listed in those treaties. Further, Interior must modify any regulations implementing the MBTA to implement this bill.

Latest action

Sep 15, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works