A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate on the restitution of or compensation for property seized during the Nazi and Communist eras.

Bill: 111-sres-153
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2009-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Conflicts and wars
Crime victims
Czech Republic
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Europe
Government information and archives
Lithuania
Poland
Property rights
Religion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
World history

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-19
text: 
 States that the Senate appreciates the efforts of those European countries that have enacted legislation for the restitution of, or compensation for, private, communal, and religious property confiscated during the Nazi or Communist eras. 
 
Urges the governments of Poland and Lithuania and the governments of other European countries that have not already done so to enact legislation so that victims and communities of Nazi persecution whose private religious, or communal, property was confiscated by the Nazis and in turn seized by a Communist government are able to obtain restitution of, or compensation for, such property. 
 
Welcomes the decision by the government of the Czech Republic to host a June 2009 international conference to continue the work done at the 1998 Washington Conference on Holocaust-Era Assets to address issues relating to: (1) restitution or compensation; (2) opening of archives and the work of historical commissions; and (3) social welfare issues of Holocaust survivors.

action_date: 2009-06-16
text: 

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

 
States that the Senate appreciates the efforts of those European countries that have enacted legislation for the restitution of, or compensation for, private, communal, and religious property confiscated during the Nazi or Communist eras. 
 
Calls on the President and the Secretary of State to engage in dialogue with leaders of countries that have not enacted such legislation to support such legislation's adoption.
 
 Welcomes the efforts of many post-Communist countries to address the status of confiscated properties and urges those countries to ensure that their restitution or compensation programs are implemented in a timely and non-discriminatory manner.
 
Urges the governments of Poland and Lithuania and the governments of other European countries that have not already done so to enact legislation so that victims, and communities, of Nazi persecution whose private religious or communal property was confiscated by the Nazis and in turn seized by a Communist government are able to obtain restitution of, or compensation for, such property. 
 
Welcomes the decision by the government of the Czech Republic to host a June 2009 international conference to continue the work done at the 1998 Washington Conference on Holocaust-Era Assets to address issues relating to: (1) restitution or compensation; (2) opening of archives and the work of historical commissions; and (3) social welfare issues of Holocaust survivors.

action_date: 2009-06-18
text: 

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

 
States that the Senate appreciates the efforts of those European countries that have enacted legislation for the restitution of, or compensation for, private, communal, and religious property confiscated during the Nazi or Communist eras. 
 
Calls on the President and the Secretary of State to engage in dialogue with leaders of countries that have not enacted such legislation to support such legislation's adoption.
 
 Welcomes the efforts of many post-Communist countries to address the status of confiscated properties and urges those countries to ensure that their restitution or compensation programs are implemented in a timely and non-discriminatory manner.
 
Urges the governments of Poland and Lithuania and the governments of other European countries that have not already done so to enact legislation so that victims, and communities, of Nazi persecution whose private religious or communal property was confiscated by the Nazis and in turn seized by a Communist government are able to obtain restitution of, or compensation for, such property. 
 
Welcomes the decision by the government of the Czech Republic to host a June 2009 international conference to continue the work done at the 1998 Washington Conference on Holocaust-Era Assets to address issues relating to: (1) restitution or compensation; (2) opening of archives and the work of historical commissions; and (3) social welfare issues of Holocaust survivors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-18
text: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6824-6825; text as passed Senate: CR S6824-6825)
action_date: 2009-06-18
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6824-6825; text as passed Senate: CR S6824-6825)
action_date: 2009-06-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 79.
action_date: 2009-06-16
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Kerry without amendment and with a preamble. Without written report.
action_date: 2009-06-16
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Kerry without amendment and with a preamble. Without written report.
action_date: 2009-06-16
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2009-05-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5622)
action_date: 2009-05-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5622-5623)
action_date: 2009-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate