U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, along with tribal leaders and his senate colleagues, announces the introduction of the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act, a bill to prohibit the exporting of sacred Native American items and increase penalties for stealing and illegally trafficking tribal cultural patrimony. Senator Heinrich worked with tribes in New Mexico and across Indian Country to draft the legislation. The bill's introduction comes after Senator Heinrich worked to help halt the auction of a Pueblo of Acoma ceremonial shield that was scheduled to be sold in May at the EVE Auction House in Paris. July 6, 2016.