U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R) announced that bipartisan legislation aimed at helping Holocaust survivors and their families recover Nazi-looted artwork has been signed into law by President Donald Trump.
The updated Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act reauthorizes and strengthens a 2016 law designed to ensure claims involving art stolen during the Holocaust are decided on their merits rather than dismissed because of technical legal deadlines.
"The thousands of missing pieces of art looted from Jewish families by Hitler's regime during the Holocaust are a painful reminder of a time when cruelty and hatred reigned," said Cornyn. "This legislation renews our commitment to Holocaust survivors and their families by ensuring cases are heard on their merit."
The bill was backed by a bipartisan group of senators, including Richard Blumenthal (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ted Cruz (R), John Fetterman (D-PA), and others. It passed the Senate unanimously in December 2025 and the House unanimously in March 2026.
Lawmakers say more than 100,000 works of art stolen by the Nazi Regime have still not been returned to their rightful owners. The Holocaust included widespread theft of Jewish property, including family heirlooms, cultural treasures, and valuable artwork.
The new law removes the previous sunset date set for December 31, 2026, and expands protections for claimants seeking restitution. It also seeks to prevent museums, governments, and institutions from using procedural tactics to block claims instead of addressing ownership questions directly.
Supporters say the legislation is especially important as survivors age and families continue searching for property stolen more than 80 years ago.
The measure received endorsements from major advocacy groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, World Jewish Congress, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
The signing of the HEAR Act marks a renewed effort by Congress to address unfinished Holocaust-era injustices and ensure survivors and their heirs still have a path to recover what was taken from them.
