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

119th Congress Introduced by Gus Bilirakis and 3 co-sponsors

Expresses the House's sense that the UK should negotiate with Greece to return the Parthenon Marbles; non-binding, signals diplomacy, not law or funding.

Submitted in House

Summary: HRES 18 – Expressing the sense of the House that the Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Greece

Overview

HRES 18 is a non-binding House resolution introduced in the 118th Congress that states the sense of the House that the Government of the United Kingdom should enter into negotiations with the Government of Greece to facilitate the return of the Parthenon Marbles (also known as the Elgin Marbles) to Greece. The resolution is a diplomatic expression, not enacted law.

Purpose and Intent

To advocate for repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles from the United Kingdom to Greece.

To urge the United Kingdom to engage in negotiations with Greece aimed at the marbles’ return.

To reflect congressional preference on this cultural-heritage issue without creating legal or financial obligations.

Key Provisions

Core provision: It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of the United Kingdom should enter into negotiations with the Government of Greece to facilitate the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

Nature: Declarative, non-binding—expresses a position of the House rather than creating new policy requirements or appropriations.

No accompanying legislative changes or specific timelines are included in the text provided.

Sponsorship

Primary sponsor: Nicole Malliotakis

Cosponsors: Chris Pappas, Dina Titus, Gus M. Bilirakis

Procedural History and Timeline

Introduced: January 7, 2025

Referred to: House Committee on Foreign Affairs (same day)

Status: Submitted in the House and under consideration by the Foreign Affairs Committee

Affected Parties and Potential Impact

Directly affected/targeted in the messaging: United Kingdom, Greece, and broader international cultural-heritage diplomacy.

Indirect impact: Signals U.S. legislative stance to encourage negotiations; could influence diplomatic dialogue or public framing of the issue, but does not alter U.S. law or entail U.S. financial obligations.

Context and Notes

The Parthenon Marbles dispute centers on long-standing calls from Greece for the return of marbles removed in the 19th century and housed in the British Museum. This resolution reiterates a sense-of-the-House position and seeks to influence international negotiations through diplomacy rather than through statutory regulation.

If you’d like, I can add a brief historical sidebar on the Parthenon Marbles dispute or compare similar resolutions to provide broader context.