S. 1965 · 115th Congress

Allowing Alaska IVORY Act

Stage
Reported from committee
Introduced
2017-10-17
Latest action
2018-12-05 · Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-415. Supplemental views filed.

Summary

Allowing Alaska to Improve Vital Opportunities in the Rural Economy Act or the Allowing Alaska IVORY Act

This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to revise an exemption for Alaskan natives from a moratorium on taking and importing marine mammals and marine mammal products with respect to ivory from walruses, whales, or mammoths. Under current law, the term "take" means to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill a marine mammal.

States may not prohibit: (1) the importation, sale, transfer, trade, barter, or possession of ivory from walruses or whales if the ivory is legally produced by Alaskan natives as an authentic native article of handicrafts and clothing; or (2) the importation, sale, transfer, trade, or possession of mammoth ivory or mammoth ivory products.