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HR 889 114th Congress House

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

Official title: To amend chapter 97 of title 28, United States Code, to clarify the exception to foreign sovereign immunity set forth in section 1605(a)(3) of such title.

Introduced: February 11, 2015 See on congress.gov
Law Art, artists, authorshipCultural exchanges and relationsEuropeGermany
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Government liabilityHistorical and cultural resourcesInternational law and treatiesJurisdiction and venueMuseums, exhibitions, cultural centersProperty rightsWar crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 15 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 10, 2015
Received in the Senate.
Jun 9, 2015
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jun 9, 2015
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3956-3957)
Jun 9, 2015
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3956-3957)
Jun 9, 2015
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 889.
Jun 9, 2015
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3956-3959)
Jun 9, 2015
Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jun 8, 2015
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 101.
Jun 8, 2015
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-141.
Mar 24, 2015
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Mar 24, 2015
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 23, 2015
Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Discharged.
Mar 16, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Feb 11, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 11, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 10, 2015

Received in the Senate.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • S 2648 Related bill CREATE Act of 2016
  • S 3155 Related bill Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act
  • HR 6477 Related bill Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Feb 11, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 889: Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-889/
MLA
"H.R. 889: Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-889/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 889, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-889/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 889: Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-889/)
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