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HRES 191 109th Congress House International Affairs Agriculture and Food Catholic Church Church and state Church property Churches Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liability Claims Communism Compensation (Law) Crime and Law Enforcement Destruction of property Europe Expropriation Farm lands Forests, forestry, trees Government Operations and Politics Government liability (International law) Human rights

Urging the Government of Romania to recognize its responsibilities to provide equitable, prompt, and fair restitution to all religious communities for property confiscated by the former Communist government in Romania.

Introduced: April 6, 2005 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 12 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 23, 2005
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 23, 2005
On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3729)
May 23, 2005
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3729)
May 23, 2005
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 191.
May 23, 2005
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3729-3732)
May 23, 2005
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
May 18, 2005
Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats Discharged.
May 18, 2005
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
May 18, 2005
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 12, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats.
Apr 6, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
Apr 6, 2005
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Notes with concern the unwillingness of past Romanian governments to provide fair restitution of religious property confiscated by the former Communist government of Romania.

Calls on the Government of Romania to: (1) respect the constitutional rights of all religious communities to practice their religion in respectable locations and openly communicate their religious beliefs; (2) provide fair restitution, including agricultural and forestry land restitution, to all religious communities under Romanian law and in accordance with the Constitution of Rumania and all international agreements to which Romania is a party; and (3) amend Decree-Law 126/1990 to require that claims involving Romanian Greek Catholic properties be heard by an independent nonreligious commission, and to prevent the demolition of Greek Catholic churches.

Calls upon the Government of Romania, with respect to Romanian Law No. 501/2002, to: (1) amend the law to reflect the principle of "restitution in integrum" and restore full property ownership; (2) reduce to one year the period during which public institutions can continue to occupy confiscated religious properties; (3) provide compensation for demolished religious properties; (4) increase the rent paid to religious communities for properties which they cannot immediately regain use; (5) cease requiring religious communities to cover state maintenance costs for confiscated buildings; and (6) obligate local governments to cooperate in implementing Special Restitution Committee decisions.

What's happening now May 23, 2005

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

 Committees of jurisdiction 2