Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator John Cornyn
Became Law
Summary
Prevents time-based and other non-merits defenses from blocking claims to Nazi-looted art. The Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025 narrows defenses courts can use, expands the types of cases covered under the 2016 law, and clarifies that changes apply to claims pending or filed after enactment while preserving severability.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Courts must hear Nazi looted art claims
The law bars courts from using time-based defenses for claims that are otherwise timely under this Act. This includes laches, adverse possession, acquisitive prescription, and usucapion. Courts also cannot dismiss covered cases on non-merits grounds like act of state, international comity, forum non conveniens, or prudential exhaustion. Congress states that very old claims about Nazi-looted art should be decided on the merits. These rules apply to cases already pending on enactment, including on appeal, and to new filings after that date.
Easier to sue foreign states over looted art
For covered cases, the law treats the dispute as involving violations of international law under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. This helps claimants sue foreign countries and their entities, regardless of the victim’s nationality. The law also allows nationwide service of process in state or federal court. Plaintiffs can serve papers where the case is filed or any U.S. district where the defendant is found, lives, has an agent, or does business. These rules take effect on the date of enactment.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
John Cornyn
TX • R
Cosponsors
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 5/22/2025
Thomas Tillis
NC • R
Sponsored 5/22/2025
Cory Booker
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/22/2025
Marsha Blackburn
TN • R
Sponsored 5/22/2025
John Fetterman
PA • D
Sponsored 5/22/2025
Eric Schmitt
MO • R
Sponsored 5/22/2025
Katie Britt
AL • R
Sponsored 5/22/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Adam Schiff
CA • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
David McCormick
PA • R
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Kirsten Gillibrand
NY • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Bernie Moreno
OH • R
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Chuck Grassley
IA • R
Sponsored 10/20/2025
Ted Cruz
TX • R
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Christopher Coons
DE • D
Sponsored 11/6/2025
Richard Durbin
IL • D
Sponsored 11/6/2025
Lindsey Graham
SC • R
Sponsored 11/6/2025
Rick Scott
FL • R
Sponsored 12/8/2025
Jacky Rosen
NV • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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