[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20681-20682]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE ``CIVIL WAR ARTIFACT AUTHENTICITY ACT''

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 2006

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the 
``Civil War Artifact Authenticity Act'' that will curb the 
proliferation of fraudulent Civil War artifacts and memorabilia 
entering the legitimate market place.
  Since the last shot fired in America's Civil War, countless numbers 
of people across the Nation have become fascinated with this monumental 
conflict. From the battlefields of Virginia and Louisiana's Red River 
to the hallowed ground of Antietam, Gettysburg, and thousands of other 
places that saw brother fighting brother, this war touched virtually 
every part of this country and every home and hearth. More than 600,000 
combatants died from battle, disease, and imprisonment.
  With the war's end, soldiers who fought in that conflict returned 
frequently, often with families in tow, to the places of the most 
stirring moments of their lives. They revered the fields on which they 
fought and established numerous associations, North and South, 
commemorating those who served. These veterans created strong links to 
their service and sacrifice, through their memoirs and other writings 
and the personal items and artifacts they carried on the battlefield 
and brought home to rest in conspicuous places on the mantles of their 
homes in recognition of the soldiers' service and sacrifice.
  Over the ensuing decades, as the soldiers and families who owned and 
cared for these artifacts died away, many of these heirlooms began to 
scatter, particularly as later generations forgot the importance of 
these historic belongings, failed to care for them, or sold the items 
to augment their incomes.
  With the arrival of the 100th anniversary of the Civil War, and the 
deaths of the last Union and Confederate soldier, respectively, in 1956 
and 1961, people began to consider the importance of these relics, 
personal items, letters, diaries, and other memorabilia that the 
soldiers took home. Scholars and researchers, collectors, museum 
curators, and others who knew the historic importance of these 
artifacts have renewed the connections to the conflict and have sought 
to protect and preserve the Civil War's tangible heritage that the 
soldiers cherished. From the day the guns fell silent up until this 
moment, these artifacts and other memorabilia have helped us define and 
understand our Civil War.
  The personal artifacts of the Civil War have spawned a large and 
growing interest in the Civil War. Probably more books and articles 
have been written about the war than any other era in our history. 
Researchers, writers, curators, and many average Americans have felt 
the need to own, study and preserve what that long-gone generation once 
owned. These artifacts which now populate the homes, shops, museums, 
schools and any number of other venues have great meaning for many of 
us today. As a result, entrepreneurs have opened commercial 
establishments to trade these relics in honest commercial enterprise.
  The fascination with the Civil War has grown a new generation of 
sellers and collectors. Original artifacts and memorabilia have 
skyrocketed in value among collectors and others. A ``belt plate,'' 
which most people know as a buckle, sold for $5 in 1960, and now cost 
as much as $200 to a $1,000 depending on the particular item. Sadly, 
unscrupulous people have opened new markets in fraudulent items that 
never saw the Civil War.
  As a result, the entry of fake items into the market for relics and 
artifacts not only cheats people financially, but also disrupts 
historical scholarship and the legitimate display in museums and other 
venues. Internet trade makes it easier for people to sell fake items to 
unschooled and unwary buyers because the con artists are unknown, many 
working overseas to flood the market with costly junk. To protect the 
true artifacts of the Civil War era, I propose new legislation designed 
to interfere with the manufacture and sale of fraudulent items, and 
increasing the awareness among sellers and buyers of the large trade in 
these fake items.
  My bill would add a second title to existing Federal law, the ``Hobby 
Protection Act,'' which requires that fake political items and 
memorabilia, and numismatic items must have the words ``copy'' or 
``facsimile'' clearly stamped on them to ensure that they are 
recognized as replicas or non-authentic items. Because original Civil 
War artifacts and memorabilia are highly prized and can reach into the 
thousands of dollars depending on the particular item, those determined 
to make a dishonest dollar, can easily replicate an original item, or 
worse, produce an item that is a pure fantasy piece--an artifact that 
never existed during the Civil War.
  While this legislation will not end the trafficking in fake Civil War 
items, it will provide sanctions through the Federal Trade Commission 
for manufacturers who purport to offer authentic Civil War relics and 
artifacts, when they are in fact fake junk.
  I know that the House will adjourn soon, and I have little 
expectation this bill will be considered. It is my hope that bill will 
serve as a marker and a starting point for what the House may consider 
next session and these artifacts and memorabilia of the Civil War era 
will retain their historic importance for generations to come.

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