HR 1493 Becomes Law

Congressman Engel, HR 1493's sponsor, has issued a press release to mark the passage of the bill into law.  CPO finds it a bit ironic that the press release indicates that Prof. Patty Gerstenblith actively lobbied for the bill that allowed the State Department to bypass the Cultural Property Advisory Committee she chairs before imposing import restrictions.  The numismatic trade and collector's groups supported CPAC review under the CPIA's well established procedures, and it unclear why Prof. Gerstenblith sought to cut out her own Committee from the process.