This bill has advanced since we wrote our summary.
Current stage on Congress.gov: Introduced in House.
Alaska Native artisans have long used parts of migratory birds — feathers, bones, and other nonedible parts — to create traditional handicrafts like weavings, carvings, and beadwork. Under current federal law, selling or transporting items with migratory bird parts can be illegal, even when the items are handmade cultural works. This bill would create a clear legal exception allowing Alaska Natives to possess, sell, and ship authentic handmade items containing nonedible migratory bird parts, as long as the birds weren't taken illegally or wastefully. Artisans would need to verify their Alaska Native status through tribal enrollment, a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, or the state's Silver Hand program.
Congressional Summary
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.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-11-12
- Date Added
- 2026-04-09
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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