House bill · H.R. 4235 (119th Congress)
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…
Official titleShow
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.
The heading above is this same sentence with its legal opening removed. No words were added, changed or reordered.
U.S. House of Representatives
Summary
This bill 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 bill 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 bill 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 bill 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 bill 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.
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From Congress.gov and official rosters. This record was last updated Jul 30, 2026. About our data
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Where it stands
Assigned to a committee for review.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
House Committee on the Judiciary · U.S. House of Representatives
Cosponsors
Bradley Scott Schneider, Brian K. Fitzpatrick and 27 others
Showing the 28 who are on Agora, A to Z. Congress.gov listed 29 as of Jul 31, 2026.
See all cosponsors on Congress.gov (opens in a new tab)- Democratic16
- Republican12
This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.
Party is shown for the 28 cosponsors who are on Agora.
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Full history
- Sep 30, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in U.S. House
U.S. House
- Jun 27, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
U.S. House of Representatives
- Jun 27, 2025
In committee
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
U.S. House
- Jun 27, 2025
Referred to committee
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
U.S. House of Representatives