Bipartisan bill strengthens legal protections for families seeking the return of Nazi-looted art held in U.S. museums

(New York, NY December 11, 2025) — The World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO) welcomes the passage of the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025 (Senate Bill 1884), which was passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate yesterday, reflecting strong bipartisan support. The bill updates and strengthens the original 2016 HEAR Act to clarify legal protections for Holocaust survivors and their families seeking the return of art looted by the Nazis and now held in U.S. museums and other institutions.

“We welcome the U.S. Senate’s unanimous advancement of the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025. This bipartisan effort will assist Holocaust survivors and their families who are seeking the return of artwork now held in museums and collections across the United States. By clarifying and strengthening the legal framework, the bill helps ensure that these claims can be evaluated on their merits, advancing justice and accountability. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, and we encourage swift support to bring us closer to ensuring that claims for Nazi-looted art can be heard on their merits,” said Mark Weitzman, Chief Operating Officer, World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO).

The bill clarifies the application of defenses based on the passage of time and other non-merits defenses to claims under the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act, helping to ensure that rightful claimants have their cases decided on the merits. These improvements will help address long-standing obstacles that have prevented families from recovering art looted during the Holocaust, particularly works now held in U.S. museums and collections.

WJRO extends its gratitude to the bill’s bipartisan co-sponsors — including Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Fetterman (D-PA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Katie Britt (R-AL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), David McCormick (R-PA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and others — for their leadership on this important measure.

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