House Passes Bill on Alaskan Ivory Sales, Preempting State Bans

The House passed a bill Wednesday prohibiting states from banning the sale of legally harvested Alaskan ivory products, sending the measure to President Donald Trump’s desk in a win for native Alaskan carvers and artists.

Lawmakers voted 404-14 on the measure (S. 254), which would allow for the sale of bone crafts and clothing in cases where Alaska natives legally harvested the walrus or cetacean for subsistence or for creating authentic products.

Federal law provides ivory carving exemptions for Alaska natives, but California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington all have broad bans in place, according ...