# 119-hr-4235: To clarify the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016, to appropriately limit the application of defenses based on the passage of time and other non-merits defenses to claims under that Act.

119-hr-4235, To clarify the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016, to appropriately limit the application of defenses based on the passage of time and other non-merits defenses to claims under that Act., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15] (R-FL); status introduced (as of 2026-07-29).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4235
- As of: 2026-07-29
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-4235
- Congress: 119
- Title: To clarify the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016, to appropriately limit the application of defenses based on the passage of time and other non-merits defenses to claims under that Act.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-27
- Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15] (R-FL)
- Cosponsors: 29
- Policy area: Law
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-29

## Summary

**Preserve and broaden the right to recover Nazi‑looted art** by blocking time‑based and other non‑merits defenses so claims are decided on their merits. The bill would also authorize nationwide service of process and clarify how foreign‑state immunity applies so covered claims can proceed in court. - Families and heirs: Would be able to pursue recovery of artwork lost to Nazi persecution even after long delays and regardless of the victim's nationality. - Museums, collectors, and dealers: Could face lawsuits they previously avoided using defenses like laches, adverse possession, or forum non‑conveniens, and defendants can be served in any U.S. district. - Foreign states and immunity law: Would treat covered claims as involving rights violated under international law for purposes of 28 U.S.C. 1605(a)(3), which can narrow immunity defenses and affect cases involving foreign governments.

## Cosponsors (29)

- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2] (D-NH), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5] (R-WI), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2025-07-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] (R-TX), 2025-07-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21] (R-TX), 2025-07-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24] (R-NY), 2025-08-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2025-08-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2025-08-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23] (D-FL), 2025-08-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21] (R-NY), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-26] (R-FL), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18] (D-NY), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28] (R-FL), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2025-11-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12] (R-TX), 2025-12-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10] (D-IL), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8] (R-TN), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2025-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7] (R-OH), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Easier to file and serve art claims: benefit, low. If enacted, this bill would apply its changes to claims pending when it becomes law, including cases on appeal or still within their appeal window. It would also apply to claims filed after that date. You would be able to serve court papers nationwide: in the court’s district, or in any U.S. distri…
- Fewer legal roadblocks to recover Nazi-looted art: benefit, low. If enacted, this bill would make it easier to recover Nazi‑looted art in U.S. courts. For any timely claim, courts could not use time‑based defenses like laches, adverse possession, acquisitive prescription, or usucapion. Courts also could not dismiss on non‑merits grounds like the act of state doc…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-4235 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4235)

## Related
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1422)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4235 (as of 2026-07-29).