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Bill114th CongressFiled Feb 11, 2015Law
H.R. 889

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

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Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house without amendment (Jun 9, 2015)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

(Sec. 2) Amends the federal judicial code with respect to denial of a foreign state's sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction of U.S. or state courts in commercial activity cases where rights in property taken in violation of international law are in issue and that property, or any property exchanged for it, is: (1) present in the United States in connection with a commercial activity carried on by the foreign state in the United States, or (2) owned by an agency or instrumentality of the foreign state and that agency or instrumentality is engaged in a commercial activity in the United States.

Prohibits from being excluded from jurisdictional immunity as a commercial activity (and thereby provides immunity for) any activity in the United States of a foreign state, or of any carrier, associated with a temporary exhibition or display, if: (1) the work of art or other object of cultural significance is imported into the United States from any foreign country pursuant to an agreement for its temporary exhibition or display between a foreign state that is its owner or custodian and the United States or U.S. cultural or educational institutions, and (2) the President has determined that such work is culturally significant and its temporary exhibition or display is in the national interest.

Denies immunity in cases concerning rights in property taken in violation of international law in which: (1) the action is based upon a claim that the work was taken between January 30, 1933, and May 8, 1945, by the government of Germany or any government in Europe occupied, assisted, or allied by the German government; (2) the court determines that the activity associated with the exhibition or display is commercial; and (3) that determination is necessary for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the foreign state.

What just happenedJun 10, 2015

Received in the Senate.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1](R-OH)Sponsor
3 cosponsors2 D1 R
Read on Congress.gov
3cosponsors1committees17actions3related bills11subjects
  1. Jun 10, 2015IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate.

  2. Jun 9, 2015FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Jun 9, 2015FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3956-3957)

  4. Jun 9, 2015Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3956-3957)

  5. Jun 9, 2015FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 889.

  6. Jun 9, 2015FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3956-3959)

  7. Jun 9, 2015FloorH30300

    Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  8. Jun 8, 2015CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 101.

  9. Jun 8, 2015CommitteeH12200

    Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-141.

    Judiciary Committee
  10. Jun 8, 2015Committee5000

    Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-141.

    Judiciary Committee
  11. Mar 24, 2015Committee

    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

    Judiciary Committee
  12. Mar 24, 2015Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Judiciary Committee
  13. Mar 23, 2015Committee

    Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Discharged.

    Judiciary Committee
  14. Mar 16, 2015Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

    Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
  15. Feb 11, 2015IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  16. Feb 11, 2015IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  17. Feb 11, 2015IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House without amendmentJun 9, 201581

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

(Sec. 2) Amends the federal judicial code with respect to denial of a foreign state's sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction of U.S. or state courts in commercial activity cases where rights in property taken in violation of international law are in issue and that property, or any property exchanged for it, is: (1) present in the United States in connection with a commercial activity carried on by the foreign state in the United States, or (2) owned by an agency or instrumentality of the foreign state and that agency or instrumentality is engaged in a commercial activity in the United States.

Prohibits from being excluded from jurisdictional immunity as a commercial activity (and thereby provides immunity for) any activity in the United States of a foreign state, or of any carrier, associated with a temporary exhibition or display, if: (1) the work of art or other object of cultural significance is imported into the United States from any foreign country pursuant to an agreement for its temporary exhibition or display between a foreign state that is its owner or custodian and the United States or U.S. cultural or educational institutions, and (2) the President has determined that such work is culturally significant and its temporary exhibition or display is in the national interest.

Denies immunity in cases concerning rights in property taken in violation of international law in which: (1) the action is based upon a claim that the work was taken between January 30, 1933, and May 8, 1945, by the government of Germany or any government in Europe occupied, assisted, or allied by the German government; (2) the court determines that the activity associated with the exhibition or display is commercial; and (3) that determination is necessary for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the foreign state.

Reported to House without amendmentJun 8, 201579

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

(Sec. 2) Amends the federal judicial code with respect to denial of a foreign state's sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction of U.S. or state courts in commercial activity cases where rights in property taken in violation of international law are in issue and that property, or any property exchanged for it, is: (1) present in the United States in connection with a commercial activity carried on by the foreign state in the United States, or (2) owned by an agency or instrumentality of the foreign state and that agency or instrumentality is engaged in a commercial activity in the United States.

Prohibits from being excluded from jurisdictional immunity as a commercial activity (and thereby provides immunity for) any activity in the United States of a foreign state, or of any carrier, associated with a temporary exhibition or display, if: (1) the work of art or other object of cultural significance is imported into the United States from any foreign country pursuant to an agreement for its temporary exhibition or display between a foreign state that is its owner or custodian and the United States or U.S. cultural or educational institutions, and (2) the President has determined that such work is culturally significant and its temporary exhibition or display is in the national interest.

Denies immunity in cases concerning rights in property taken in violation of international law in which: (1) the action is based upon a claim that the work was taken between January 30, 1933, and May 8, 1945, by the government of Germany or any government in Europe occupied, assisted, or allied by the German government; (2) the court determines that the activity associated with the exhibition or display is commercial; and (3) that determination is necessary for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the foreign state.

Introduced in HouseFeb 11, 2015

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

Amends the federal judicial code with respect to denial of a foreign state's sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction of U.S. or state courts in commercial activity cases where rights in property taken in violation of international law are in issue and that property, or any property exchanged for it, is: (1) present in the United States in connection with a commercial activity carried on by the foreign state in the United States; or (2) owned by an agency or instrumentality of the foreign state and that agency or instrumentality is engaged in a commercial activity in the United States.

Grants a foreign state or certain carriers immunity from federal or state court jurisdiction for any activity in the United States associated with a temporary exhibition or display of a work of art or other object of cultural significance if:

  • the work of art or other object of cultural significance is imported into the United States from any foreign country pursuant to an agreement for its temporary exhibition or display between a foreign state that is its owner or custodian and the United States or U.S. cultural or educational institutions; and
  • the President has determined that such work is culturally significant and its temporary exhibition or display is in the national interest.

Denies immunity, however, in cases concerning rights in property taken in violation of international law in which: (1) the action is based upon a claim that the work was taken between January 30, 1933, and May 8, 1945, by the government of Germany or any government in Europe occupied, assisted, or allied by the German government; (2) the court determines that the activity associated with the exhibition or display is commercial; and (3) that determination is necessary for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the foreign state.

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act — Informed