House approves update to Indian Arts and Crafts Act
The House passed H.R. 725, the Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act of 2009, by a voice vote on Wednesday.

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 requires products that are marketed as "Indian" to be produced by an Indian artisan or a tribe. Under the law, only the FBI can investigate suspected violations of the law.

H.R.725 expands the law by authorizing "any" federal law enforcement officer to investigate. That could include officers with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Senate passed S.151, its version of the bill, in July by unanimous consent. The House version is slightly different, as Republicans pointed out yesterday, and the two bills will have to be reconciled before being signed into law by President Barack Obama.

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