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HR 5265 116th Congress House International Affairs Civil actions and liability Europe Germany Interest, dividends, interest rates Legal fees and court costs Life, casualty, property insurance Switzerland War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2019

Introduced: March 2, 2020 Introduced by: Wasserman Schultz, Debbie Democratic · Florida See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 19, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Nov 22, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 22, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2019

This bill allows a beneficiary (or an heir of a beneficiary) of certain insurance policies in effect during the Holocaust to sue in U.S. district court to enforce rights under such policies.

An insurance policy covered under this bill must have been (1) in effect at any time between January 31, 1933, and December 31, 1945, and (2) issued to a policyholder domiciled in Nazi-controlled territory or Switzerland.

A court shall award to a prevailing beneficiary (1) the amount due under a policy, (2) prejudgment interest of 6% a year, (3) attorney's fees and costs, and (4) treble damages if the insurer acted in bad faith. 

An action under this bill or state law related to a covered insurance policy shall be considered timely if filed within 10 years of this bill's enactment.

Judgments and agreements entered before this bill's enactment shall not preclude a claim brought under the bill, with certain exceptions. Neither executive agreements between the United States and a foreign government nor U.S. executive foreign policies shall (1) affect or preclude claims brought under this bill, or (2) supersede or preempt any state laws relating to insurance policies covered by this bill.

What's happening now December 19, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5265: Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5265/
MLA
"H.R. 5265: Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5265/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5265, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5265/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5265: Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5265/)
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