News:

The Oklahoma House of Representatives asks the US Senate to amend the HEAR Act

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Oklahoma 21 April 2016

OKLAHOMA HOUSE RESOLUTION 1062: ASKING THE U.S. SENATE TO AMEND THE HEAR ACT

WHEREAS, Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act, facilitates the return of artwork stolen by Nazis during the Holocaust to their rightful owners or heirs.

WHEREAS, and however, the six-year limitations period under this bill is unreasonable because it would limit and thereby damage some 80 percent of claims in New York, which is the state where most Jewish art claims are adjudicated.

WHEREAS, the Oklahoma House of Representatives encourages the U.S. Senate to amend the bill by eliminating or generously extending the six-year limitations period under this bill.

WHEREAS, the HEAR Act would ensure that claims in the United States to Nazi-confiscated art are resolved in a fair and just manner on the merits, and are not barred by state statutes of limitations and other procedural defenses.

WHEREAS, doing so is consistent with long-standing U.S. foreign policy, as expressed in the 1998 Washington Conference Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art, the Holocaust Victims Redress Act, and the 2009 Terezin Declaration.

WHEREAS, during the Third Reich, “the Nazis stole hundreds of thousands of artworks from museums and private collections throughout Europe, in what has been termed the ‘greatest displacement of art in human history.’”

WHEREAS, when World War II ended, the United States and its allies attempted to return the stolen art to their countries of origin, but despite these efforts, many pieces were never reunited with their owners or heirs.

WHEREAS, the American government has long worked with other nations to ensure that victims and their families are able to recover art tragically stolen by the Nazis.

WHEREAS, the HEAR Act would ensure that claims to Nazi-confiscated art are not unfairly barred by statutes of limitations and other similar procedural defenses but are instead resolved on their merits.

THEREFORE, the Oklahoma House of Representatives encourage the Oklahoma congressional delegation, and the U.S. congress to amend the HEAR Act as written in Oklahoma House Resolution 1062 by eliminating or generously extending the statue of limitations and then support, co-author, and vote for the HEAR Act.

 

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