Heinrich, Leger Fernández Host Event With Tribal Leaders To Celebrate STOP Act Becoming Law

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 21, 2023
- 10:19 am

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich stands with Tribal Leaders Wednesday in celebrating the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act becoming law. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) joined Tribal leaders to celebrate the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act becoming law.

The STOP Act prohibits the exporting of sacred Native American items and increase penalties for stealing and illegally trafficking Tribal cultural patrimony. It will help prevent instances like the auction of a shield, stolen from the Pueblo of Acoma. Heinrich played a role in the effort to bring the shield home by working with Governors Kurt Riley and Brian Vallo to call for its return.

Heinrich first introduced the STOP Act in 2016. He championed the bill in the Senate alongside U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández led on the bill in the House of Representatives alongside the late U.S. Representative Don Young (R-Alaska), and U.S. Reps. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Sharice Davids (D-Kan.).