ICYMI: Cruz, Cornyn Bipartisan HEAR Act Passes Senate
Bill facilitates return of artwork stolen by Nazis during Holocaust
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Saturday the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act, which facilitates the return of artwork stolen by the Nazis during the Holocaust by ensuring that the artwork’s rightful owners or heirs get their day in court. Sens. Cruz and Cornyn, along with Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), introduced the HEAR Act in April.
In June, Sens. Cruz and Cornyn chaired a joint subcommittee hearing on the need for the HEAR Act. Cruz also penned an op-ed in June highlighting the importance of returning Nazi-looted art to the families of Holocaust victims and calling on Congress to pass the HEAR Act.
Following is a summary of news coverage from the HEAR Act’s passage:
The Jerusalem Post: US Senate Passes Bill to Help Recover Nazi-Looted Art
"The Senate unanimously passed the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act, or HEAR Act…The bill would extend the statute of limitations for the stolen artwork to six years from the date that the art in question is identified and located, and from when the claimant has shown evidence of possession of the art…“Today, we delivered a long-overdue victory for the families of Holocaust victims,” Cruz said in a statement. “This bipartisan legislation rights a terrible injustice and sends a clear signal that America will continue to root out every noxious vestige of the Nazi regime. I’m proud to have worked closely with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to empower the victims of the horrific atrocities that took place over 70 years ago and will continue to fight to bring peace and justice to these families.”
The New York Times: Holocaust Survivors Score Victory in Reclaiming Stolen Art
“A group of Holocaust survivors and their families notched a crucial victory on Friday, as Congress approved legislation that would make it easier to reclaim art confiscated during World War II…The legislation is considered a critical tool as Holocaust survivors and their heirs have faced a bureaucratic and legal tangle of governments, museums and collectors to recover art taken from them more than 70 years ago….The quest for justice for Holocaust survivors united lawmakers from both parties in a remarkably combative election year. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the incoming Democratic leader, and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a Republican and former presidential candidate, teamed up on the bill, along with other colleagues.”
The Washington Examiner: Senate passes bill to help recover Nazi-stolen art
“A bipartisan bill to facilitate the return of artwork stolen by the Nazis decades ago made it through the Senate early Saturday morning after its passage in the House last week. The Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act was first introduced by Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in April…Specifically, the bill extends the statute of limitations for returning stolen artwork to six years from the date a piece of art was first identified as stolen and the identity of its real owner determined.”
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