Keating Says Artifacts Bill Eliminates ISIS Revenue Source

Congressman William Keating announced on Friday that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act that would give law enforcement more tools to stop the trafficking of antiquities and other cultural objects that are being sold by ISIS.

Keating told WBSM News that when ISIS takes over a territory they get rid of any symbols or artifacts that don't represent their version of Islam.

While many of these items are destroyed, some are sold to buyers in the U.S. at a very substantial profit.

"One site alone in Al-Nabek, which is just west of Damascus, yielded them an estimated $36 million that they used to fund their activities," said Keating.

Keating says when these goods come into the country they are often unable to prevent them from coming in, and are often unaware of what to look for.

"We found out that there was no plan to do that, in fact it wasn't being done effectively, and the people weren't trained to even recognize the difference between one item that might be coming and an ancient artifact," said Keating.

Keating says the bill improves coordination between agencies, such as Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and gives officials training to better spot these items.

"This bill will make sure that it's required of customs and border people to do this kind of screening, to implement the actual screening for this, and it will take groups like the Smithsonian Institute, which are experts in this area, and train our customs and border people," said Keating.

The Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act now heads to the Senate where Keating says it has generated a great deal of bi-partisan interest.