TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Intermodal Safe Container 
Transportation Act Amendments of 1996''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 49.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of title 49, United States 
Code.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 5901 is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the 
        definitions in sections 10102 and 13102 of this title apply.'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs 
        (7) and (8), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(6) `gross cargo weight' means the weight of the cargo, 
        packaging materials (including ice), pallets, and dunnage.''.

SEC. 4. NOTIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS.

    Section 5902 is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 5902. Notifications and certifications
    ``(a) Prior Notification.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the first carrier to which any loaded 
        container or trailer having a projected gross cargo weight of 
        more than 29,000 pounds is tendered for intermodal 
        transportation is a motor carrier, the person tendering the 
        container or trailer shall give the motor carrier a 
        notification of the projected gross cargo weight and a 
        reasonable description of the contents of the container or 
        trailer before the tendering of the container or trailer. The 
        notification may be transmitted electronically or by telephone.
            ``(2) Applicability.--This subsection applies to any person 
        within the United States who tenders a container or trailer 
        subject to this chapter for intermodal transportation if the 
        first carrier is a motor carrier.
    ``(b) Certification.--
            ``(1) In general.--A person who tenders a loaded container 
        or trailer with an actual gross cargo weight of more than 
        29,000 pounds, to a first carrier for intermodal transportation 
        shall provide a certification of the contents of the container 
        or trailer in writing, or electronically, before or when the 
        container or trailer is so tendered.
            ``(2) Contents of certification.--The certification 
        required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
                    ``(A) The actual gross cargo weight.
                    ``(B) A reasonable description of the contents of 
                the container or trailer.
                    ``(C) The identity of the certifying party.
                    ``(D) The container or trailer number.
                    ``(E) The date of certification or transfer of data 
                to another document, as provided for in paragraph (3).
            ``(3) Transfer of certification data.--A carrier who 
        receives a certification may transfer the information contained 
        in the certification to another document or to electronic 
        format for forwarding to a subsequent carrier. The person 
        transferring the information shall state on the forwarded 
        document the date on which the data was transferred and the 
        identity of the party who performed the transfer.
            ``(4) Shipping documents.--For purposes of this chapter, a 
        shipping document, prepared by the person tendering a container 
        or trailer to a first carrier, that contains the information 
        required by paragraph (2) meets the requirements of paragraph 
        (1).
            ``(5) Use of `freight all kinds' term.--The term `Freight 
        All Kinds' or `FAK' may not be used for the purpose of 
        certification under this subsection after December 31, 2000, as 
        a description required under paragraph (2)(B) for a trailer or 
        container if the weight of any commodity in the trailer or 
        container equals or exceeds 20 percent of the total weight of 
the contents of the trailer or container. This subsection does not 
prohibit the use of such term after December 31, 2000, for rating 
purposes.
            ``(6) Separate document marking.--If a separate document is 
        used to meet the requirements of paragraph (1), it shall be 
        conspicuously marked `INTERMODAL CERTIFICATION'.
            ``(7) Applicability.--This subsection applies to any 
        person, domestic or foreign, who first tenders a container or 
        trailer subject to this chapter for intermodal transportation 
        within the United States.
    ``(c) Forwarding Certifications to Subsequent Carriers.--
            ``(1) General rule.--A carrier, agent of a carrier, broker, 
        customs broker, freight forwarder, warehouser, or terminal 
        operator shall forward the certification provided under 
        subsection (b) to a subsequent carrier transporting the 
        container or trailer in intermodal transportation before or 
        when the container or trailer is tendered to the subsequent 
        carrier.
            ``(2) Presumption of no certification required.--If no 
        certification is received by the subsequent carrier before or 
        when the container or trailer is being tendered to it, the 
        subsequent carrier may presume that no certification is 
        required.
            ``(3) Limitation on construction of forwarding.--The act of 
        forwarding the certification may not be construed as a 
        verification or affirmation of the accuracy or completeness of 
        the information in the certification.
            ``(4) Liability.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If a person inaccurately 
                transfers the information on the certification or fails 
                to forward the certification to a subsequent carrier, 
                then that person is liable to any person who incurs any 
                bond, fine, penalty, cost (including storage), or 
                interest charge incurred as a result of the inaccurate 
                transfer of information or failure to forward the 
                certification.
                    ``(B) Lien.--A subsequent carrier incurring a bond, 
                fine, penalty, or cost (including storage), or interest 
                charge as a result of the inaccurate transfer of the 
                information or the failure to forward the certification 
                shall have a lien against the contents of the container 
                or trailer under section 5905 in the amount of the 
                bond, fine, penalty, or cost (including storage), or 
                interest charge and all court costs and legal fees 
                incurred by the carrier as a result of such inaccurate 
                transfer or failure.
            ``(5) Notice to leased operators.--If a motor carrier knows 
        that the gross cargo weight of an intermodal container or 
        trailer subject to the certification requirements of subsection 
        (b) would result in a violation of applicable State gross 
        vehicle weight laws--
                    ``(A) a motor carrier must inform the operator of a 
                vehicle which is leased by the vehicle operator to a 
                motor carrier which transports an intermodal container 
                or trailer of the gross cargo weight of the container 
                or trailer as certified to the motor carrier pursuant 
                to subsection (b);
                    ``(B) the notice must be provided to the operator 
                prior to the operator being tendered the container or 
                trailer;
                    ``(C) the notice required by this subsection must 
                be in writing, but may be transmitted electronically;
                    ``(D) the motor carrier shall bear the burden of 
                proof to establish that it tendered the required notice 
                to the operator; and
                    ``(E) if the operator of a leased vehicle 
                transporting a container or trailer subject to this 
                chapter should receive a fine because of a violation of 
                a State's gross vehicle weight laws or regulations and 
                lessee motor carrier cannot establish that it tendered 
                to the operator the notice required by this section, 
                the operator shall be entitled to reimbursement from 
                the motor carrier of the amount of any fine and court 
                costs resulting from the failure of the motor carrier 
                to tender the notice to the operator.
    ``(d) Liability to Owner or Beneficial Owner.--If--
            ``(1) a person inaccurately transfers information on a 
        certification required by subsection (b)(1) or fails to forward 
        a certification to the subsequent carrier;
            ``(2) as a result of the inaccurate transfer of such 
        information or a failure to forward a certification, the 
        subsequent carrier incurs a bond, fine, penalty, or cost 
        (including storage), or interest charge; and
            ``(3) a subsequent carrier exercises its rights to a lien 
        under section 5905,
then that person is liable to the owner or beneficial owner or to any 
other person paying the amount of the lien to the subsequent carrier 
for the amount of the lien and all costs related to the imposition of 
the lien, including court costs and legal fees incurred in connection 
with imposition of the lien.
    ``(e) Nonapplicability.--
            ``(1) Consolidated shipments.--The notification and 
        certification requirements of subsections (a) and (b) do not 
        apply to any intermodal container or trailer containing 
        consolidated shipments loaded by a motor carrier if that motor 
        carrier--
                    ``(A) performs the highway portion of the 
                intermodal movement; or
                    ``(B) assumes the responsibility for any weight-
                related fine or penalty incurred by any other motor 
                carrier that performs a part of the highway 
                transportation.
            ``(2) Intermodal transportation of loaded containers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subsections (a) and (b) and 
                section 5903(c) do not apply to a carrier when the 
                carrier is transferring a loaded container or trailer 
                to another carrier during intermodal transportation, 
                unless the carrier is also the person tendering the 
                loaded container or trailer to the first carrier.
                    ``(B) Special rule.--A carrier, agent of a carrier, 
                broker, customs broker, freight forwarder, warehouser, 
                or terminal operator is deemed not to be a person 
                tendering a loaded container or trailer to a first 
                carrier under this section, unless the carrier, agent, 
                broker, customs broker, freight forwarder, warehouser, 
                or terminal operator assumes legal responsibility for 
                loading property into the container or trailer.''.

SEC. 5. PROHIBITIONS.

    (a) Providing Erroneous Information.--Section 5903(a) is amended by 
inserting ``, to whom section 5902(b) applies,'' after ``A person''.
    (b) Transporting Prior To Receiving Certification.--Section 5903(b) 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Transporting Prior To Receiving Certification.--
            ``(1) Presumption.--If no certification is received by a 
        motor carrier before or when a loaded intermodal container or 
        trailer is tendered to it, the motor carrier may presume that 
        the gross cargo weight of the container or trailer is less than 
        29,001 pounds.
            ``(2) Copy of certification not required to accompany 
        container or trailer.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this chapter, if a certification is required by section 
        5902(b), a copy of the certification is not required to 
        accompany the intermodal container or trailer.''.
    (c) Unlawful Coercion.--Section 5903(c)(1) is amended by striking 
``10,000 pounds (including packing materials and pallets)'' and 
inserting ``29,000 pounds''.

SEC. 6. LIENS.

    (a) General Rule.--Section 5905(a) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) General Rule.--If a person involved in the intermodal 
transportation of a loaded container or trailer for which a 
certification is required by section 5902(b) of this title is required, 
because of a violation of a State's gross vehicle weight laws or 
regulations, to post a bond or pay a fine, penalty, cost (including 
storage), or interest charge resulting from--
            ``(1) erroneous information provided by the certifying 
        party in the certification to the first carrier in violation of 
        section 5903(a),
            ``(2) the failure of the party required to provide the 
        certification to the first carrier to provide it,
            ``(3) the failure of a person required under section 
        5902(c) to forward the certification to forward it, or
            ``(4) an error occurring in the transfer of information on 
        the certification to another document under section 5902(b)(3) 
        or 5902(c),
then the person posting the bond, or paying any fine, penalty, cost 
(including storage), or interest charge has a lien against the contents 
equal to the amount of the bond, fine, penalty, cost (including 
storage), or interest charge incurred, until the person receives a 
payment of that amount from the owner or beneficial owner of the 
contents or from the person responsible for making or forwarding the 
certification or transferring the information from the certification to 
another document.''.
    (b) Limitations.--Section 5905(b)(1) is amended--
            (1) by inserting after ``the first carrier'' the following: 
        ``or the owner or beneficial owner of the contents''; and
            (2) by striking ``cost, or interest.'' and inserting ``cost 
        (including storage), or interest charge. The lien shall remain 
        in effect until the lien holder has received payment for all 
        costs and expenses as described in subsection (a).''.

SEC. 7. PERISHABLE AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES.

    Section 5906 is amended by striking ``Sections 5904(a)(2) and 5905 
of this title do'' and insert ``Section 5905 does''.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Section 5907 is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 5907. Effective date
    ``This chapter, as amended by the Intermodal Safe Container 
Transportation Act Amendments of 1996, is effective on the date of the 
enactment of such Act. The provisions of this chapter shall be 
implemented 180 days after such date of enactment.''.

SEC. 9. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 59 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:
``Sec. 5908. Relationship to other laws
    ``Nothing in this chapter affects--
            ``(1) chapter 51 (relating to transportation of hazardous 
        material) or the regulations issued under that chapter; or
            ``(2) any State highway weight or size law or regulation 
        applicable to tractor-trailer combinations.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 5907 and inserting the 
following:

``5907. Effective date.
``5908. Relationship to other laws.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 18, 1996.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.

SOLUTION: Intermodal Safe Container Transportation Act Amendments of 1996 - Amends Federal transportation law to revise the prior notification requirements for intermodal freight transportation. 
Requires a person who tenders to a first carrier that is a motor carrier (currently, any carrier) a container or trailer with a gross cargo weight of more than 29,000 pounds (currently, 10,000 pounds, including packing material and pallets) for intermodal transportation to give prior notification of the cargo weight and a reasonable description of its contents to the motor carrier. 
Allows such notification to be made by telephone, and allows the required certification of the container or trailer contents to be electronic.  Sets forth administrative and civil penalties for persons who inaccurately transfer certification information.  Makes such a person liable to the owner or beneficial owner for any lien filed by a subsequent carrier that incurred a bond, fine, or other penalty as a result of an inaccurate information transfer or a failure to forward a certification. 
Requires a motor carrier that knows that the gross cargo weight of an intermodal container or trailer violates State vehicle weight laws to give notice to the operator of a leased vehicle that transports such items.  Requires the motor carrier to reimburse the operator of the leased vehicle that are fined because of a violation of a State's gross vehicle weight laws. 
Allows a motor carrier to presume that the gross cargo weight of a container or trailer is under 29,001 pounds if it receives no certification before or when a loaded intermodal container or trailer is tendered to it.  Declares that a copy of a certification is not required to accompany the intermodal container or trailer. 
Prohibits a person from coercing a person transporting a loaded container or trailer having a gross cargo weight of more than 29,000 pounds (currently, 10,000 pounds, including packing materials and pallets) before the required certification is provided. 
Adds to the circumstances giving certain persons a lien against the contents of the container or trailer as a result of a violation of a State's gross vehicle weight laws.  Includes among such circumstances:  (1) failure of the party required to provide certification off gross cargo weight to the first carrier to provide it; (2) failure of the party required to forward such certification to forward it; or (3) error in the transfer of information on the certification to another document.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. EXCHANGE OF CERTAIN MINERAL INTERESTS IN BILLINGS COUNTY, 
              NORTH DAKOTA.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to consolidate certain 
mineral interests in the Little Missouri National Grasslands in 
Billings County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and 
private mineral interests in order to enhance land management 
capability and environmental and wildlife protection.
    (b) Exchange.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law--
            (1) if, not later than 45 days after the date of enactment 
        of this Act, Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company (referred 
        to in this section as ``Burlington'' and formerly known as 
        Meridian Oil Inc.), conveys title acceptable to the Secretary 
        of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the 
        ``Secretary'') to rights and interests identified on the map 
        entitled ``Billings County, North Dakota, Consolidated Mineral 
        Exchange--November 1995'', by quitclaim deed acceptable to the 
        Secretary, the Secretary shall convey to Burlington, subject to 
        valid existing rights, by quit-claim deed, all Federal rights 
        and interests identified on that map; and
            (2) if Burlington makes the conveyance under paragraph (1) 
        and, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, the owners of the remaining non-oil gas mineral 
        interests identified on that map convey title acceptable to the 
        Secretary to all rights, title, and interests in the interests 
        held by them, by quitclaim deed acceptable to the Secretary, 
        the Secretary shall convey to those owners, subject to valid 
        existing rights, by exchange deed, all Federal rights, title, 
        and interests in National Forest System lands and National 
        Grasslands in the State of North Dakota as are agreed to by the 
        Secretary and the owners of those interests.
    (c) Leasehold Interests.--As a condition precedent to the 
conveyance of interests by the Secretary to Burlington under this 
section, all leasehold and contractual interests in the oil and gas 
interests to be conveyed by Burlington to the United States under this 
section shall be released, to the satisfaction of the Secretary.
    (d) Approximate Equal Value of Exchanges With Other Interest 
Owners.--The values of the interests to be exchanged under subsection 
(b)(2) shall be approximately equal, as determined by the Secretary.
    (e) Land Use.--
            (1) Exploration and development.--The Secretary shall grant 
        to Burlington, and its successors and assigns, the use of 
        Federally-owned surface lands to explore for and develop 
        interests conveyed to Burlington under this Act, subject to 
        applicable Federal and State laws.
            (2) Surface occupancy and use.--Rights to surface occupancy 
        and use that Burlington would have absent the exchange under 
        this Act on its interests conveyed under this Act shall apply 
        to the same extent on the federally owned surface estate 
        overlying oil and gas rights conveyed to Burlington under this 
        Act.
    (f) Environmental Protection for Environmentally Sensitive Lands.--
All activities of Burlington, and its successors and assigns, relating 
to exploration and development on environmentally sensitive National 
Forest System lands, as described in the ``Memorandum of Understanding 
Concerning Certain Severed Mineral Estates, Billings County, North 
Dakota'', executed by the Forest Service and Burlington and dated 
November 2, 1995, shall be subject to the terms of the memorandum.
    (g) Map.--The map referred to in subsection (b) shall be provided 
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives, kept on file in 
the office of the Chief of the Forest Service, and made available for 
public inspection in the office of the Forest Supervisor of the Custer 
National Forest within 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (h) Other Laws.--The exchange under subsection (b)(1) shall be 
deemed to meet the requirements of all other Federal laws, including 
all land exchange laws, environmental laws, and cultural laws (such as 
the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.)), and no 
further compliance with any other law shall be required in order to 
implement the exchanges.
    (i) Continuation of Multiple Use.--Nothing in this Act, shall 
limit, restrict, or otherwise affect the application of the principle 
of multiple use (including outdoor recreation, range, timber, 
watershed, and fish and wildlife purposes) in any area of the Little 
Missouri National Grasslands. Federal grazing permits or privileges in 
areas designated on the map entitled ``Billings County, North Dakota, 
Consolidated Mineral Exchange--November 1995'' or those lands described 
in the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Certain Severed Mineral 
Estates, Billings County, North Dakota'', shall not be curtailed or 
otherwise limited as a result of the exchange authorized by this Act.

SOLUTION: Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the Burlington Resources Oil and Gas Company (formerly known as Meridian Oil Inc.) all Federal rights and interests identified on a map entitled the "Billings County, North Dakota, Consolidated Mineral Exchange--November 1995," contingent on Burlington's conveyance to the Secretary of title to its own rights and interests identified on the same map. 
Directs the Secretary to convey to owners of the remaining non-oil gas mineral interests identified on the map all Federal rights, title, and interests in the National Forest System lands and National Grasslands in the State of North Dakota, contingent on the owners' conveyance to the Secretary, after Burlington's conveyance, of all their rights, title, and interests. 
Directs the Secretary to grant to Burlington the use of federally-owned surface lands to explore for and develop interests conveyed to Burlington under this Act.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Holocaust Insurance Accountability 
Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) allow for the enforcement of State laws requiring the 
        disclosure of information about Holocaust-era insurance 
        policies, notwithstanding the holding of the Supreme Court of 
        the United States in American Insurance Association v. 
        Garamendi, 539 U.S. 396 (2003) that such laws are preempted by 
        the foreign policy espoused by the executive branch of the 
        Federal Government addressed in that case;
            (2) facilitate the disclosure of information about 
        Holocaust-era insurance policies under applicable State laws so 
        that citizens of the United States (and other persons on whose 
        behalf such laws were enacted) may know whether they hold any 
        rights under the policies;
            (3) allow the beneficiaries of Holocaust-era insurance 
        policies, many of whom are citizens of the United States, to 
        bring suits in the courts of the United States to recover any 
        proceeds under the policies to which they may be entitled, 
        notwithstanding the defense that such suits are preempted by 
        the executive branch foreign policy addressed in Garamendi;
            (4) foreclose defenses to claims brought under section 4 of 
        this Act arising from any prior judgments or settlement 
        agreements (including the class action judgment and settlement 
        agreement (M21-89, United States District Court for the 
        Southern District of New York) in In re: Assicurazioni General 
        S.p.A. Holocaust Insurance Litigation) that were entered and 
        approved based on the erroneous conclusion that State law 
        claims to recover under Holocaust-era insurance claims are 
        preempted by the executive branch foreign policy addressed in 
        Garamendi;
            (5) provide for a uniform statute of limitations of 10 
        years after the date of enactment of this Act in any action to 
        recover under Holocaust-era insurance policies under this Act 
        or State law; and
            (6) in carrying out the purposes described in paragraphs 
        (1) through (5), preserve the lawmaking powers of Congress 
        under article I of the Constitution of the United States, with 
        which the judicial decisions cited in this section are 
        inconsistent.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Beneficiary.--The term ``beneficiary'' includes--
                    (A) a named insured or named beneficiary under a 
                covered policy; and
                    (B) an heir, assignee, or legal representative of a 
                named insured or named beneficiary described in 
                subparagraph (A).
            (2) Covered policy.--The term ``covered policy'' means any 
        life, dowry, education, annuity, property, or other insurance 
        policy that was--
                    (A) in effect at any time during the period 
                beginning on January 31, 1933, and ending on December 
                31, 1945; and
                    (B) issued to a policyholder domiciled in--
                            (i) any area that was occupied or 
                        controlled by Nazi Germany; or
                            (ii) the territorial jurisdiction of 
                        Switzerland.
            (3) Insurer.--The term ``insurer''--
                    (A) means any person engaged in the business of 
                insurance (including reinsurance) in interstate or 
                foreign commerce that issued a covered policy; and
                    (B) includes any successor in interest to a person 
                described in subparagraph (A).
            (4) Nazi germany.--The term ``Nazi Germany'' means--
                    (A) the Nazi government of Germany; and
                    (B) any government that--
                            (i) had friendly relations with the Nazi 
                        government of Germany;
                            (ii) was allied with or controlled by the 
                        Nazi government of Germany; or
                            (iii) exercised or claimed sovereignty over 
                        any area occupied by the military forces of the 
                        Nazi government of Germany.
            (5) Related company.--The term ``related company'' means an 
        affiliate, as that term is defined in section 104(g) of the 
        Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6701(g)).

SEC. 4. PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION; CIVIL ACTIONS.

    (a) Civil Actions To Recover Under Covered Policies.--A beneficiary 
of a covered policy may bring a civil action against the insurer for 
the covered policy or a related company of the insurer to recover 
proceeds due under the covered policy or otherwise to enforce any 
rights under the covered policy.
    (b) Nationwide Service of Process.--For a civil action brought 
under subsection (a) in a district court of the United States, process 
may be served in the judicial district where the case is brought or any 
other judicial district of the United States where the defendant may be 
found, resides, has an agent, or transacts business.
    (c) Remedies.--
            (1) Damages.--
                    (A) In general.--A court shall award to a 
                prevailing beneficiary in a civil action brought under 
                subsection (a)--
                            (i) the amount of the proceeds due under 
                        the covered policy;
                            (ii) prejudgment interest on the amount 
                        described in clause (i) from the date the 
                        amount was due until the date of judgment, 
                        calculated at a rate of 6 percent per year, 
                        compounded annually; and
                            (iii) any other appropriate relief 
                        necessary to enforce rights under the covered 
                        policy.
                    (B) Treble damages.--If a court finds that an 
                insurer or related company of the insurer acted in bad 
                faith, the court shall award damages in an amount equal 
                to 3 times the amount otherwise to be awarded under 
                subparagraph (A).
            (2) Attorney's fees and costs.--A court shall award 
        reasonable attorney's fees and costs to a prevailing 
        beneficiary in a civil action brought under subsection (a).
    (d) Limitation.--A civil action may not be brought under this 
section on or after the date that is 10 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. EFFECT OF PRIOR JUDGMENTS AND RELEASES.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Effect.--Subject to subsection (b)(1), a judgment or 
        release described in paragraph (2) shall not preclude, 
        foreclose, bar, release, waive, acquit, discharge, or otherwise 
        impair any claim brought under section 4 by any person.
            (2) Judgments and releases.--A judgment or release 
        described in this paragraph is--
                    (A) a judgment entered before the date of enactment 
                of this Act for any claim arising under a covered 
                policy in any civil action in a Federal or State court; 
                or
                    (B) an agreement entered into before the date of 
                enactment of this Act under which any person (on behalf 
                of the person, any other person, or a class of persons) 
                agrees not to assert or agrees to waive or release any 
                claim described in subparagraph (A), regardless of 
                whether the agreement is--
                            (i) denominated as a release, discharge, 
                        covenant not to sue, or otherwise; or
                            (ii) approved by a court.
    (b) Rules of Construction.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        nothing in this section shall affect the validity or 
        enforceability of any agreement entered into between any 
        claimant under a covered policy and the International 
        Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims or an insurer 
        under which the claimant has agreed to release or waive any 
        claim in consideration for payment under a covered policy.
            (2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any 
        agreement for which the payment is denominated as humanitarian 
        by the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance 
        Claims.

SEC. 6. EFFECT OF EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS AND EXECUTIVE FOREIGN POLICY.

    (a) Effect of Executive Agreements and Executive Foreign Policy on 
State Laws.--An executive agreement described in subsection (c)(1) and 
an executive foreign policy described in subsection (c)(2) shall not 
supercede or preempt the law of any State--
            (1) relating to a claim under or relating to a covered 
        policy against the insurer for the covered policy or a related 
        company of the insurer; or
            (2) that requires an insurer doing business in the State or 
        any related company of the insurer to disclose information 
        regarding a covered policy issued by the insurer.
    (b) Effect of Executive Agreements and Executive Foreign Policy on 
Claims Brought Under This Act.--An executive agreement described in 
subsection (c)(1) and an executive foreign policy described in 
subsection (c)(2) shall not compromise, settle, extinguish, waive, 
preclude, bar, or foreclose a claim brought under section 4.
    (c) Executive Agreements and Executive Foreign Policy Covered.--
            (1) Executive agreements.--An executive agreement described 
        in this paragraph is an executive agreement between the United 
        States and a foreign government entered into before, on, or 
        after the date of enactment of this Act.
            (2) Executive foreign policy.--An executive foreign policy 
        described in this paragraph is a foreign policy of the 
        executive branch of the Federal Government established before, 
        on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 7. EFFECT ON STATE LAWS.

    Nothing in this Act shall supersede or preempt any State law except 
to the extent the law of the State conflicts with this Act.

SEC. 8. TIMELINESS OF ACTIONS BROUGHT UNDER STATE LAW.

    A claim brought under any State law described in section 6(a) shall 
not be deemed untimely on the basis of any State or Federal statute of 
limitations or on the basis of any other legal or equitable rule or 
doctrine (including laches) governing the timeliness of claims if the 
claim is filed not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 9. SEVERABILITY.

    If any provision of this Act or the application of such provision 
to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the 
remainder of this Act and the application of such provision to any 
other person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICABILITY.

    This Act shall--
            (1) take effect on the date of enactment of this Act; and
            (2) apply to any claim relating to a covered policy that is 
        brought, before, on, or after the date of enactment of this 
        Act.

SOLUTION:
Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2016 This bill allows a beneficiary of a Holocaust-era life, dowry, education, annuity, property, or other insurance policy to bring a civil action in a U.S. district court against the insurer for the covered policy to recover proceeds due or, otherwise, to enforce any rights under the policy.   The bill covers any policy that was: (1) in effect at any time from January 31, 1933, to December 31, 1945; and (2) issued to a policy holder domiciled in any area that was occupied or controlled by Nazi Germany, an ally or friendly government, or the territorial jurisdiction of Switzerland.  The bill requires the award: (1) to a prevailing beneficiary of the amount of the proceeds due under the policy, plus prejudgment interest at 6% per year, compounded annually, calculated from the date the amount was originally due; and (2) of treble damages against any insurer that acted in bad faith.   A civil action under this bill must be filed within 10 years after enactment of this bill.  A prior judgment or release entered for any claim arising under a covered policy in any civil action in a federal or state court shall not impair a claim brought under this bill. Any executive agreement between the United States and a foreign government or any executive foreign policy of the U.S. government shall not supercede or preempt any state law or compromise, settle, extinguish, waive, preclude, bar, or foreclose any claim brought under this bill.  A claim brought under state law within 10 years after enactment of this bill shall not be deemed untimely on the basis of any state or federal statute of limitations or on the basis of any other legal or equitable rule or doctrine governing timeliness.