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Public Law114th CongressLaw
H.R. 6477Became Law

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

This bill became law

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What it doesSummary public law (Dec 16, 2016)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

(Sec. 2) This bill 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.

The bill 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.

The bill denies immunity, however, in cases concerning rights in property taken in violation of international law in which the action is based upon a claim that the work was taken: (1) 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; or (2) after 1900 in connection with the acts of a foreign government as part of a systematic campaign of coercive confiscation or misappropriation of works from members of a targeted and vulnerable group. For purposes of these denials of immunity, the court must determine that the activity associated with the exhibition or display is commercial and that determination must be necessary for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the foreign state.

(Sec. 3) The Department of State must ensure that foreign states that apply for such temporary exhibition immunity are notified of the amendments made by this bill.

What just happenedDec 16, 2016

Became Public Law No: 114-319.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1](R-OH)Sponsor
3 cosponsors2 D1 R
Read on Congress.gov
3cosponsors17actions3related bills11subjects
  1. Dec 16, 2016President

    Became Public Law No: 114-319.

  2. Dec 16, 2016BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 114-319.

  3. Dec 16, 2016President

    Signed by President.

  4. Dec 16, 2016BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Dec 15, 2016Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Dec 15, 2016President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Dec 12, 2016Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Dec 10, 2016Floor

    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S7128-7131)

  9. Dec 10, 2016Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S7128-7131)

  10. Dec 8, 2016IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate, read twice.

  11. Dec 8, 2016FloorH38310

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

  12. Dec 8, 2016FloorH37100

    On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H7551-7552)

  13. Dec 8, 2016Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H7551-7552)

  14. Dec 8, 2016FloorH30000

    Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H7551-7552)

  15. Dec 8, 2016FloorH30200

    Mr. Goodlatte asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.

  16. Dec 8, 2016IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  17. Dec 8, 2016IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Public LawDec 16, 201649

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

(Sec. 2) This bill 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.

The bill 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.

The bill denies immunity, however, in cases concerning rights in property taken in violation of international law in which the action is based upon a claim that the work was taken: (1) 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; or (2) after 1900 in connection with the acts of a foreign government as part of a systematic campaign of coercive confiscation or misappropriation of works from members of a targeted and vulnerable group. For purposes of these denials of immunity, the court must determine that the activity associated with the exhibition or display is commercial and that determination must be necessary for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the foreign state.

(Sec. 3) The Department of State must ensure that foreign states that apply for such temporary exhibition immunity are notified of the amendments made by this bill.

Passed Senate without amendmentDec 10, 201682

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

(Sec. 2) This bill 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.

The bill 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.

The bill denies immunity, however, in cases concerning rights in property taken in violation of international law in which the action is based upon a claim that the work was taken: (1) 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; or (2) after 1900 in connection with the acts of a foreign government as part of a systematic campaign of coercive confiscation or misappropriation of works from members of a targeted and vulnerable group. For purposes of these denials of immunity, the court must determine that the activity associated with the exhibition or display is commercial and that determination must be necessary for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the foreign state.

(Sec. 3) The Department of State must ensure that foreign states that apply for such temporary exhibition immunity are notified of the amendments made by this bill.

Introduced in HouseDec 8, 2016

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

This bill 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.

The bill 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.

The bill denies immunity, however, in cases concerning rights in property taken in violation of international law in which the action is based upon a claim that the work was taken: (1) 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; or (2) after 1900 in connection with the acts of a foreign government as part of a systematic campaign of coercive confiscation or misappropriation of works from members of a targeted and vulnerable group. For purposes of these denials of immunity, the court must determine that the activity associated with the exhibition or display is commercial and that determination must be necessary for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the foreign state.

The Department of State must ensure that foreign states that apply for such temporary exhibition immunity are notified of the amendments made by this bill.

Passed House without amendmentDec 8, 201681

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

(Sec. 2) This bill 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.

The bill 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.

The bill denies immunity, however, in cases concerning rights in property taken in violation of international law in which the action is based upon a claim that the work was taken: (1) 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; or (2) after 1900 in connection with the acts of a foreign government as part of a systematic campaign of coercive confiscation or misappropriation of works from members of a targeted and vulnerable group. For purposes of these denials of immunity, the court must determine that the activity associated with the exhibition or display is commercial and that determination must be necessary for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the foreign state.

(Sec. 3) The Department of State must ensure that foreign states that apply for such temporary exhibition immunity are notified of the amendments made by this bill.

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act — Informed