I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5511 
To amend title 28, United States Code, to ensure that the validity of foreign 
judgments against United States citizens is adjudicated in Federal courts. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 25, 2006 
Mr. ROHRABACHER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 28, United States Code, to ensure that the 
validity of foreign judgments against United States citi-
zens is adjudicated in Federal courts. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as ‘‘The Fair Enforcement of 
Foreign Judgments Amendment of 2006’’. 
SEC. 2. DIVERSITY JURISDICTION. 
Section 1332 of title 28, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f)(1) The district court shall have original and ex-
clusive jurisdiction of any action to enforce a foreign judg-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:55 Jun 02, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5511.IH
H5511
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
ment against a citizen of the United States, in which the 
matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of 
$75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, and in which— 
‘‘ 
‘‘(A) any plaintiff is a citizen of a State dif-
ferent from any defendant; 
‘‘(B) any plaintiff is a foreign state or a citizen 
or subject of a foreign state and any defendant is a 
citizen of a State; or 
‘‘(C) any plaintiff is a citizen of a State and 
any defendant is a foreign state or a citizen or sub-
ject of a foreign state. 
‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘for-
eign judgment’ means any judgment or order of the court 
of a foreign state granting or denying a sum of money, 
or determining a legal controversy.’’. 
SEC. 3. REMOVAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 89 of title 28, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 1454. Removal of actions to enforce foreign judge-
ments. 
‘‘An action to enforce a foreign judgment over which 
a district court may exercise jurisdiction under section 
1332(f) may be removed to a district court of the United 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:55 Jun 02, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5511.IH
H5511
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
States in accordance with section 1446, without regard to 
whether any defendant is a citizen of the State in which 
the action is brought, except that such action may be re-
moved by any defendant without the consent of all defend-
ants.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 89 of title 28, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘1454.
Renewal of actions to enforce foreign judgments.’’. 
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall 
take effect on the date of enactment of this Act, and shall 
apply to any action to enforce a foreign judgment against 
a citizen of the United States that is brought on or after 
March 1, 2006. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:55 Jun 02, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5511.IH
H5511
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS