Bill Sponsor
House Bill 5265
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2019
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Nov 22, 2019
Overview
Text
Introduced
Nov 22, 2019
Latest Action
Dec 19, 2019
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
5265
Congress
116
Policy Area
International Affairs
International Affairs
Primary focus of measure is matters affecting foreign aid, human rights, international law and organizations; national governance; arms control; diplomacy and foreign officials; alliances and collective security. Measures concerning trade agreements, tariffs, foreign investments, and foreign loans may fall under Foreign Trade and International Finance policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Republican
California
Democrat
California
Democrat
Florida
Democrat
Maryland
Democrat
Massachusetts
Republican
Nebraska
Republican
New York
Democrat
New York
Republican
New York
Republican
Pennsylvania
Democrat
Pennsylvania
Republican
Tennessee
Democrat
Washington
House Votes (0)
Senate Votes (0)
No House votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

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.

Text (1)
November 22, 2019
Actions (3)
12/19/2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
11/22/2019
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.
11/22/2019
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Oct 28, 2022 1:46:10 AM