Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025
Summary
Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025
This act permanently extends and expands judicial authority under the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016. The law allows and establishes procedures for civil claims and causes of action to recover artwork and other property lost between 1933 and 1945 because of Nazi persecution.
Among the changes, the act removes the deadline for filing civil claims or causes of action. Currently, the filing deadline is December 31, 2026. (Claims must still be filed within six years of the claimant's discovery of the property in question.)
The act permits courts to exercise jurisdiction over civil claims or causes of action against a foreign state without regard to the nationality or citizenship of the alleged victim. The art or property at issue must still have a connection to the foreign state's commercial activities in the United States.
Additionally, the act authorizes nationwide service of process, which allows courts to exercise personal jurisdiction over defendants in any judicial district where they may be found, reside, have an agent, or transact business.
Finally, the act limits the defenses that may be asserted against civil claims or causes of action, including by prohibiting
- defenses based on the passage of time, including equitable defenses such as laches (i.e., unreasonable delays); and
- discretionary bases for dismissal that are unrelated to the merits of the claim, including international comity (i.e., deference to the laws of other countries).
These changes apply to pending and future civil claims or causes of action.
Timeline
- Apr 13, 2026Became Public Law No: 119-82.
- Apr 13, 2026Became Public Law No: 119-82.
- Apr 13, 2026Signed by President.
- Apr 13, 2026Signed by President.
- Apr 2, 2026Presented to President.
- Apr 2, 2026Presented to President.
- Mar 16, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Mar 16, 2026On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2497)
- Mar 16, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2497)
- Mar 16, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1884.
- Mar 16, 2026Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2497-2500)
- Mar 16, 2026Ms. Lee (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Dec 11, 2025Held at the desk.
- Dec 11, 2025Received in the House.
- Dec 11, 2025Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Dec 10, 2025Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8628-8629; text: CR S8629)
- Dec 10, 2025Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- Nov 18, 2025Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 271.
- Nov 18, 2025Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with amendments. Without written report.
- Nov 18, 2025Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with amendments. Without written report.
- Nov 6, 2025Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
- May 22, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- May 22, 2025Introduced in Senate
Cosponsors
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] D-CT
- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] R-NC
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] D-NJ
- Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] R-TN
- Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] D-PA
- Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO] R-MO
- Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL] R-AL
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] D-VT
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] D-CA
- Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA] R-PA
- Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI] D-MI
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] D-NY
- Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH] R-OH
- Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] R-IA
- Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] R-TX
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] D-DE
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] D-IL
- Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] R-SC
- Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] R-FL
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] D-NV
- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] D-GA
In the News
- Berlin Conference | 1884, Result, Summary, & Impact on Africa - Britannica
- Delegation for 4.17.26: Haiti TPS — National Guard — Cubans — seafood — Parkinson’s - Florida Politics
- Reporter's Notebook: Why Trump may not be able to force Congress back over the DHS shutdown - Fox News
- Congress Advances Updates to the HEAR Act of 2016 - Wealth Management
- Looking to limit birthright citizenship, Trump turns to an 1884 Supreme Court ruling against a Native American man - NBC News
- Two Bills to Become Law; Lots of Ongoing Work - The Fulcrum
- Congress unanimously passes bill to permanently extend Holocaust art restitution law - JNS.org
- Opinion | Firing the BLS commissioner will come back to haunt Trump - The Washington Post
- The Constitution and federal government shutdowns - The National Constitution Center
- Government Shutdowns: Causes and Effects - Brookings
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