Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Greece.

Bill Number

H.Res. 18

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2025-02-03T15:36:29Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This resolution (H. Res. 18) expresses the non-binding opinion of the U.S. House of Representatives that the United Kingdom should negotiate with Greece to return the Parthenon Marbles—ancient sculptures from the Parthenon temple in Athens—to their country of origin. It highlights the cultural, historical, and symbolic importance of the Marbles to promote their reunification.

Key Provisions

• Historical Context: The resolution details the Parthenon's construction in the mid-5th century B.C. as a symbol of Greek art, architecture, democracy, and contributions to civilization. It notes the Marbles' removal by Lord Elgin between 1801 and 1816 under Ottoman rule, their transport to Britain, and their eventual purchase by the British government for the British Museum.
• Cultural Significance: Emphasizes that the Marbles are integral to the Parthenon structure (not standalone art) and serve as a global symbol of culture, democracy, and freedom. It mentions the Parthenon's influence on U.S. architecture, like the Lincoln Memorial.
• Arguments for Return: Points out risks during removal and storage, Greece's long-standing requests since 1830, the opening of the New Acropolis Museum in 2009 (which displays surviving Marbles and replicas), and Greece's commitment to superior care. It also notes support from British MPs and Greece's willingness for diplomatic negotiations.
• Resolved Clause: Declares it the sense of the House that the UK government should negotiate the Marbles' return to Greece, framing it as a goodwill gesture without setting legal precedents for other artifacts.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a simple resolution, which means it does not create, amend, or repeal any laws. It has no legal force and only reflects the House's opinion, so it introduces no changes to U.S. or international law.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: May encourage the U.S. Department of State to support diplomatic discussions in international forums, though it imposes no requirements.
• On Citizens: U.S. citizens, particularly those interested in cultural heritage, could see increased awareness of repatriation issues, potentially influencing public opinion or tourism to Greece's Acropolis Museum.
• On International Relations: Could strengthen U.S.-Greece ties by signaling support for Greek cultural claims, while pressuring the UK diplomatically. It promotes goodwill without obligating action, possibly inspiring similar resolutions on global artifact returns.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Greek Government and People: Primary beneficiaries, as it advocates for repatriation of artifacts central to their national identity and heritage.
• United Kingdom Government and British Museum: Directly addressed, as they hold the Marbles; the resolution urges negotiation but assures no precedent for other collections.
• U.S. Congress: Sponsors (e.g., Reps. Malliotakis, Bilirakis, Pappas, Titus) and the House Foreign Affairs Committee are involved in advancing cultural diplomacy.
• Cultural and Heritage Organizations: Global museums, archaeologists, and advocacy groups focused on artifact repatriation may be influenced by the resolution's emphasis on ethical returns.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Non-binding nature means it carries no enforceable obligations under U.S. law or international treaties; it avoids legal claims on ownership, focusing on moral and diplomatic persuasion.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's role in expressing foreign policy views (Article I), but as a House-only resolution, it lacks Senate or presidential involvement, limiting its weight.
• Political: Demonstrates bipartisan U.S. support for cultural repatriation, potentially boosting the sponsors' profiles in Greek-American communities. It highlights ongoing debates on colonial-era artifact acquisitions without endorsing restitution for U.S. museums, maintaining neutrality on domestic collections.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-01-07: Submitted in House
• 2025-01-07: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Greece. — issued 2025-01-07 — PDF (4 pages)