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119-s-1884119th Congress

Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Cornyn, John [R-TX]

Became Law

Summary

Ensure Nazi-looted art claims are decided on the merits, not blocked by time-based defenses. The law broadens who can sue, bars a wide set of delay-based and other non-merits defenses, and allows plaintiffs to serve defendants nationwide.

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  • Families and heirs: Survivors and heirs gain stronger access to recovery because defenses based on passage of time—laches, adverse possession, acquisitive prescription, and usucapion—cannot be applied to any claim that is otherwise timely. The change covers claims pending on the law's date and those filed afterward.
  • Current possessors and institutions: People or institutions holding disputed works face greater exposure because plaintiffs may serve process in any federal district where a defendant is found, resides, has an agent, or transacts business. Doctrines like act of state, international comity, forum non conveniens, and prudential exhaustion cannot be used to dismiss otherwise timely claims.
  • Courts and foreign states: Civil actions under the law are treated as involving rights violated under international law for purposes of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The law also includes a severability provision so remaining rules stay in effect if part is invalidated.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Easier to sue foreign states over art

Covered claims are treated as involving violations of international law under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. This lets claimants sue foreign states and their agencies in U.S. courts, regardless of the victim’s nationality. Plaintiffs can serve defendants anywhere in the U.S. where they are found, live, have an agent, or do business. These rules apply to pending and new cases.

Stronger claims to recover looted art

The law blocks time-based defenses like laches and adverse possession in timely claims for Holocaust-looted art. It also bars non-merits dismissals like act of state, international comity, and forum non conveniens. These rules apply to claims that were pending on enactment and to new claims filed after. If any part of the law is struck down, the rest still applies.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cornyn, John [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 5/22/2025

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 5/22/2025

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 5/22/2025

  • Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 5/22/2025

  • Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 5/22/2025

  • Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 5/22/2025

  • Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 5/22/2025

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 6/3/2025

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/4/2025

  • Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 9/19/2025

  • Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 10/8/2025

  • Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 10/14/2025

  • Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 10/14/2025

  • Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 10/20/2025

  • Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 11/6/2025

  • Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 11/6/2025

  • Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 11/6/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 12/8/2025

  • Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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