H.R. 6021 — Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act

This section declares the purpose of the Act to be clarifying the treatment of authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft—as defined in section 2(c)(1) of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703)—under the four international conventions for migratory bird protection ratified by the United States (with Great Britain in 1916, Mexico in 1936, Japan in 1974, and the Soviet Union in 1976).

This section amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703) to clarify that the Act's prohibitions do not apply to the possession, sale, barter, purchase, transport, or carriage of authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft (i.e., items composed significantly of foraged natural materials and fashioned traditionally by an Alaska Native without mass copying devices) containing nonedible migratory bird parts, provided the bird was not taken wastefully or illegally. It defines relevant terms, including "Alaska Native" as a member of an Alaska-based Indian tribe (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304) verified by tribal enrollment, a Bureau of Indian Affairs Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, or an Alaska Silver Hand permit. Additionally, this section directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior, to enter bilateral procedures with relevant treaty countries within 180 days of enactment and requires the Secretary of the Interior to update implementing regulations accordingly; it also makes a technical amendment to section 2(a) by inserting a comma.