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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Scientifically Identifying the Need
for Critical Habitat Act''.

SEC. 2. DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE CRITICAL HABITAT.

Section 4(a)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
1533(a)(3)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
''(A) may designate any habitat of a species that is
determined under paragraph (1) to be an endangered species or
threatened species as critical habitat of such species; and ''.

SEC. 3. SOUND SCIENCE.

(a) Best Scientific and Commercial Data Available.--
(1) In general.--Section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532) is amended--
(A) by amending the section heading to read as
follows:

''SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS. '';

(B) by striking ''For the purposes of this Act--''
and inserting the following:
''(a) Definitions.--In this Act:''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
''(b) Use of Certain Data.--In any case in which the Secretary is
required by this Act to use the best scientific and commercial data
available, the Secretary, in evaluating comparable data, shall give
greater weight to scientific or commercial data that is empirical or
has been field-tested or peer-reviewed.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--The table of contents in the
first section of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
prec. 1531) is amended by striking the item relating to section
3 and inserting the following:

''Sec. 3. Definitions and general provisions.''.
(b) Use of Sound Science in Listing.--Section 4(b) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
''(9) Establishment of criteria for scientific studies to
support listing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall promulgate
regulations that establish criteria that must be met for
scientific and commercial data to be used as the basis of a
determination under this section that a species is an
endangered species or a threatened species.
''(10) Field data.--
''(A) Requirement.--The Secretary may not determine
that a species is an endangered species or a threatened
species unless the determination is supported by data
obtained by observation of the species in the field.
''(B) Data from landowners.--The Secretary shall--
''(i) accept and acknowledge receipt of
data regarding the status of a species that is
collected by an owner of land through
observation of the species on the land; and
''(ii) include the data in the rulemaking
record compiled for any determination that the
species is an endangered species or a
threatened species.''.
(c) Use of Sound Science in Recovery Planning.--Section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
''(6)(A) The Secretary shall identify and publish in the Federal
Register with the notice of a proposed regulation pursuant to paragraph
(5)(A)(i) a description of additional scientific and commercial data
that would assist in the preparation of a recovery plan and--
''(i) invite any person to submit the data to the
Secretary; and
''(ii) describe the steps that the Secretary plans to take
for acquiring additional data.
''(B) Data identified and obtained under subparagraph (A)(i) shall
be considered by the recovery team and the Secretary in the preparation
of the recovery plan in accordance with section 5.''.

SEC. 4. PEER REVIEW.

Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
''(j) Independent Scientific Review Requirements.--
''(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
''(A) Action.--The term 'action' means--
''(i) the determination that a species is
an endangered species or a threatened species
under subsection (a);
''(ii) the determination under subsection
(a) that an endangered species or a threatened
species be removed from any list published
under subsection (c)(1);
''(iii) the development of a recovery plan
for a threatened species or endangered species
under subsection (f); and
''(iv) the determination that a proposed
action is likely to jeopardize the continued
existence of a listed species and the proposal
of any reasonable and prudent alternatives by
the Secretary under section 7(b)(3).
''(B) Qualified individual.--The term 'qualified
individual' means an individual with expertise in the
biological sciences--
''(i) who through publication of peer-
reviewed scientific literature or other means,
has demonstrated scientific expertise on the
species or a similar species or other
scientific expertise relevant to the decision
of the Secretary under subsection (a) or (f);
''(ii) who does not have, or represent any
person with, a conflict of interest with
respect to the determination that is the
subject of the review;
''(iii) who is not a participant in any
petition or proposed or final determination
before the Secretary; and
''(iv) who has no direct financial
interest, and is not employed by any person
with a direct financial interest, in opposing
the action under consideration.
''(2) List of independent scientific reviewers.--The
Secretary shall solicit recommendations from the National
Academy of Sciences and develop and maintain a list of
qualified reviewers to participate in independent scientific
review actions.
''(3) Appointment of independent scientific reviewers.--(A)
Before any action shall become final, the Secretary shall
appoint randomly, from among the list prepared in accordance
with this section, 3 qualified individuals who shall review and
report to the Secretary on the scientific information and
analyses on which the proposed action is based.
''(B) The selection and activities of the referees selected
pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
''(C) Reviewers shall be compensated for conducting the
independent review.
''(4) Opinion of peer reviewers.--Independent reviewers
shall provide the Secretary, within 3 months, their opinion
regarding all relevant scientific information and assumptions
relating to the taxonomy, population models, and supportive
biological and ecological information for the species in
question.
''(5) Final determination.--If the referees have made a
recommendation on a proposed action, the Secretary shall
evaluate and consider the information that results from the
independent scientific review and include in the final
determination--
''(A) a summary of the results of the independent
scientific review; and
''(B) in a case in which the recommendation of a
majority of the referees who conducted the independent
scientific review is not followed, an explanation as to
why the recommendation was not followed.
''(6) Public notice.--The report of the peer reviewers
shall be included in the official record of the proposed action
and shall be available for public review prior to the close of
the comment period on the proposed action.''.

SEC. 5. IMPROVED RECOVERY PLANNING.

(a) Use of Information Provided by States.--Section 7(b)(1) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(1)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
''(C) Use of state information.--In conducting a
consultation under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary
shall actively solicit and consider information from
the State agency in each affected State.''.
(b) Opportunity to Participate in Consultations.--Section 7(b)(1)
of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(1)) (as
amended by subsection (a)) is further amended by adding at the end the
following:
''(D) Opportunity to participate in
consultations.--
''(i) In general.--In conducting a
consultation under subsection (a)(2), the
Secretary shall provide any person who has
sought authorization or funding from a Federal
agency for an action that is the subject of the
consultation, the opportunity to--
''(I) before the development of a
draft biological opinion, submit and
discuss with the Secretary and the
Federal agency information relevant to
the effect of the proposed action on
the species and the availability of
reasonable and prudent alternatives (if
a jeopardy opinion is to be issued)
that the Federal agency and the person
can take to avoid violation of
subsection (a)(2);
''(II) receive information, on
request, subject to the exemptions
specified in section 552(b) of title 5,
United States Code, on the status of
the species, threats to the species,
and conservation measures, used by the
Secretary to develop the draft
biological opinion and the final
biological opinion, including the
associated incidental taking
statements; and
''(III) receive a copy of the draft
biological opinion from the Federal
agency and, before issuance of the
final biological opinion, submit
comments on the draft biological
opinion and discuss with the Secretary
and the Federal agency the basis for
any finding in the draft biological
opinion.
''(ii) Explanation.--If reasonable and
prudent alternatives are proposed by a person
under clause (i) and the Secretary does not
include the alternatives in the final
biological opinion, the Secretary shall explain
to the person why those alternatives were not
included in the opinion.
''(iii) Public access to information.--
Comments and other information submitted to, or
received from, any person (pursuant to clause
(i)) who seeks authorization or funding for an
action shall be maintained in a file for that
action by the Secretary and shall be made
available to the public (subject to the
exemptions specified in section 552(b) of title
5, United States Code).''.
Scientifically Identifying the Need for Critical Habitat Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to change from mandatory to discretionary the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to designate critical habitat of an endangered or threatened species.

Directs the Secretary, when required by the Act to use the best scientific and commercial data available, in evaluating comparable data to give greater weight to such data that is empirical or has been field-tested or peer-reviewed.

Specifies requirements for the use of sound science in the listing of endangered or threatened species such as: (1) the establishment of criteria for scientific studies to support the listing; (2) use of data obtained by observation of the species in the field; and (3) use of data from landowners who have observed such species on their land. Requires the use of sound science in the preparation of a recovery plan for an endangered or threatened species.

Sets forth requirements for: (1) peer review before certain action can become final with respect to endangered or threatened species; and (2) use of information provided by States affected by such species or their habitat for recovery plans.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ''Keeping Families
Together Act of 2001''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Restoration of definition of aggravated felony (repeal of
section 321 of IIRIRA).
Sec. 3. Restoration of detention policy.
Sec. 4. Repeal of time stop provisions.
Sec. 5. Repeal of section 101(a)(48).
Sec. 6. Restoration of section 212(c).
Sec. 7. Restoration of judicial review provisions.
Sec. 8. Post-proceeding relief for affected aliens.

SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF DEFINITION OF AGGRAVATED FELONY (REPEAL OF
SECTION 321 OF IIRIRA).

(a) In General.--Effective as if included in the enactment of the
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
(division C of Public Law 104-208), section 321 of such Act is repealed
and the provisions of law amended by such section are restored as if
such section had not been enacted.
(b) Restoration of Rights.--Any alien whose legal permanent
resident status, application for permanent residence, or application
for cancellation of removal, was affected by the changes in the
definition of ''aggravated felony'' made by such section 321 may apply
to the Attorney General to be considered for adjustment of status or
cancellation of removal in conformance with the provisions of section
101(a)(43) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as restored by
subsection (a).

SEC. 3. RESTORATION OF DETENTION POLICY.

(a) In General.--Section 236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(c)) is amended to read as follows:
''(c) Detention of Criminal Aliens.--
''(1) In general.--The Attorney General shall take into
custody any alien convicted of an aggravated felony upon
release of the alien (regardless of whether or not such release
is on parole, supervised release, or probation, and regardless
of the possibility of rearrest or further confinement in
respect of the same offense). Notwithstanding subsection (a) or
section 241(a) but subject to paragraph (2), the Attorney
General shall not release such felon from custody.
''(2) Non-release.--The Attorney General may not release
from custody any who has been convicted of an aggravated
felony, either before or after a determination of removability,
unless--
''(A)(i) the alien was lawfully admitted, or
''(ii) the alien was not lawfully admitted but the
alien cannot be removed because the designated country
of removal will not accept the alien; and
''(B) the alien satisfies the Attorney General that
the alien will not pose a danger to the safety of other
persons or of property and is likely to appear for any
scheduled proceeding.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be
effective as if included in the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.

SEC. 4. REPEAL OF TIME STOP PROVISIONS.

(a) In General.--Section 240A(d) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(d)) is repealed.
(b) Effective Date.--The repeal made by subsection (a) shall be
effective as if included in the enactment of subtitle A of title III of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of
1996.

SEC. 5. REPEAL OF SECTION 101(A)(48).

(a) In General.--Paragraph (48) of section 101(a)(48) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is repealed.
(b) Effective Date.--The repeal made by subsection (a) shall take
effect as if included in the enactment of section 322(a) of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.

SEC. 6. RESTORATION OF SECTION 212(C).

(a) In General.--Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1182) is amended by inserting after subsection (b) the
following new subsection:
''(c) Aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence who
temporarily proceeded abroad voluntarily and not under an order of
deportation or removal, and who are returning to a lawful
unrelinquished domicile of seven consecutive years, may be admitted in
the discretion of the Attorney General without regard to the provisions
of subsection (a) (other than paragraphs (3) and (10)(C)). Nothing
contained in this subsection shall limit the authority of the Attorney
General to exercise the discretion vested in him under section 211(b).
The first sentence of this subsection shall not apply to an alien who
has been convicted of one or more aggravated felonies and has served
for such felony or felonies a term of imprisonment of at least 5
years.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) applies
as of April 24, 1996, as if section 440(d) of the Antiterrorism and
Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-132) and section
304(b) of Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act
of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104-208) had not been enacted.

SEC. 7. RESTORATION OF JUDICIAL REVIEW PROVISIONS.

(a) In General.--Section 242 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1252) is amended to read as follows:

''judicial review of orders of removal

''Sec. 242. (a) The procedure prescribed by, and all the provisions
of chapter 158 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to, and
shall be the sole and exclusive procedure for, the judicial review of
all final orders of removal heretofore or hereafter made against aliens
within the United States pursuant to administrative proceedings under
section 240 of this Act or comparable provisions of any prior Act,
except that--
''(1) a petition for review may be filed not later than 90
days after the date of the issuance of the final removal order,
or, in the case of an alien convicted of an aggravated felony
not later than 30 days after the issuance of such order;
''(2) the venue of any petition for review under this
section shall be in the judicial circuit in which the
administrative proceedings before an immigration judge were
conducted in whole or in part, or in the judicial circuit
wherein is the residence, as defined in this Act, of the
petitioner, but not in more than one circuit;
''(3) the action shall be brought against the Immigration
and Naturalization Service, as respondent. Service of the
petition to review shall be made upon the Attorney General of
the United States and upon the official of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service in charge of the Service district in
which the office of the clerk of the court is located. The
service of the petition for review upon such official of the
Service shall stay the removal of the alien pending
determination of the petition by the court, unless the court
otherwise directs or unless the alien is convicted of an
aggravated felony, in which case the Service shall not stay the
removal of the alien pending determination of the petition of
the court unless the court otherwise directs;
''(4) except as provided in clause (B) of paragraph (5) of
this subsection, the petition shall be determined solely upon
the administrative record upon which the removal order is based
and the Attorney General's findings of fact, if supported by
reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record
considered as a whole, shall be conclusive;
''(5) whenever any petitioner, who seeks review of an order
under this section, claims to be a national of the United
States and makes a showing that his claim is not frivolous, the
court shall (A) pass upon the issues presented when it appears
from the pleadings and affidavits filed by the parties that no
genuine issue of material fact is presented; or (B) where a
genuine issue of material fact as to the petitioner's
nationality is presented, transfer the proceedings to a United
States district court for the district where the petitioner has
his residence for hearing de novo of the nationality claim and
determination as if such proceedings were originally initiated
in the district court under the provisions of section 2201 of
title 28, United States Code. Any such petitioner shall not be
entitled to have such issue determined under section 360(a) of
this Act or otherwise;
''(6) whenever a petitioner seeks review of an order under
this section, any review sought with respect to a motion to
reopen or reconsider such an order shall be consolidated with
the review of the order;
''(7) if the validity of a removal order has not been
judicially determined, its validity may be challenged in a
criminal proceeding against the alien for violation of
subsection (a) or (b) of section 243 of this Act only by
separate motion for judicial review before trial. Such motion
shall be determined by the court without a jury and before the
trial of the general issue. Whenever a claim to United States
nationality is made in such motion, and in the opinion of the
court, a genuine issue of material fact as to the alien's
nationality is presented, the court shall accord him a hearing
de novo on the nationality claim and determine that issue as if
proceedings had been initiated under the provisions of section
2201 of title 28, United States Code. Any such alien shall not
be entitled to have such issue determined under section 360(a)
of this Act or otherwise. If no such hearing de novo as to
nationality is conducted, the determination shall be made
solely upon the administrative record upon which the removal
order is based and the Attorney General's findings of fact, if
supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on
the record considered as a whole, shall be conclusive. If the
removal order is held invalid, the court shall dismiss the
indictment and the United States shall have the right to appeal
to the court of appeals within 30 days. The procedure on such
appeals shall be as provided in the Federal rules of criminal
procedure. No petition for review under this section may be
filed by any alien during the pendency of a criminal proceeding
against such alien for violation of subsection (a) or (b) of
section 243 of this Act;
''(8) nothing in this section shall be construed to require
the Attorney General to defer removal of an alien after the
issuance of a removal order because of the right of judicial
review of the order granted by this section, or to relieve any
alien from compliance with subsections (a) and (b) of section
243 of this Act. Nothing contained in this section shall be
construed to preclude the Attorney General from detaining or
continuing to detain an alien or from taking the alien into
custody pursuant to section 241 of this Act at any time after
the issuance of a removal order;
''(9) it shall not be necessary to print the record or any
part thereof, or the briefs, and the court shall review the
proceedings on a typewritten record and on typewritten briefs;
and
''(10) any alien held in custody pursuant to an order of
removal may obtain judicial review thereof by habeas corpus
proceedings.
''(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any alien
against whom a final order of removal has been made heretofore or
hereafter under the provisions of section 235 of this Act or comparable
provisions of any prior Act may obtain judicial review of such order by
habeas corpus proceedings and not otherwise.
''(c) An order of removal shall not be reviewed by any court if the
alien has not exhausted the administrative remedies available to the
alien as of right under the immigration laws and regulations or if the
alien has departed from the United States after the issuance of the
order. Every petition for review or for habeas corpus shall state
whether the validity of the order has been upheld in any prior judicial
proceeding, and, if so, the nature and date thereof, and the court in
which such proceeding took place. No petition for review or for habeas
corpus shall be entertained if the validity of the order has been
previously determined in any civil or criminal proceeding, unless the
petition presents grounds which the court finds could not have been
presented in such prior proceeding, or the court finds that the remedy
provided by such prior proceeding was inadequate or ineffective to test
the validity of the order.
''(d)(1) A petition for review or for habeas corpus on behalf of an
alien against whom a final order of removal has been issued pursuant to
section 238(b) may challenge only--
''(A) whether the alien is in fact the alien described in
the order;
''(B) whether the alien is in fact an alien described in
section 238(b)(2);
''(C) whether the alien has been convicted of an aggravated
felony and such conviction has become final; and
''(D) whether the alien was afforded the procedures
required by section 238(b)(4).
''(2) No court shall have jurisdiction to review any issue other
than an issue described in paragraph (1).''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to
determinations pending on or after such date with respect to which--
(1) a final administrative decision has been not been
rendered as of such date; or
(2) such a decision has been rendered but the period for
seeking judicial review of the decision has not expired.

SEC. 8. POST-PROCEEDING RELIEF FOR AFFECTED ALIENS.

(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 240(c)(6) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(6)) or any other
limitation imposed by law on motions to reopen removal proceedings, the
Attorney General shall establish a process (whether through permitting
the reopening of a removal proceeding or otherwise) under which an
alien--
(1) who is (or was) in removal proceedings before the date
of the enactment of this Act (whether or not the alien has been
removed as of such date); and
(2) whose eligibility for cancellation of removal has been
established by this Act;
may apply (or reapply) for cancellation of removal under section
240A(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(a)) as a
beneficiary of the relief provided under this Act.
(b) Parole.--The Attorney General should exercise the parole
authority under section 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)(A)) for the purpose of permitting aliens
removed from the United States to participate in the process
established under subsection (a).
Keeping Families Together Act of 2001 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Act) to repeal the provision amending the definition of "aggravated felony," and restore provisions of law amended by such provision as if it had not been enacted, including residency-or status-related rights of an affected legal alien. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise detention of criminal alien provisions, effective as if included in the Act. Repeals, as if included in the Act: (1) certain provisions respecting termination of continuous presence or physical presence in the United States; and (2) the definition of "conviction."Authorizes the Attorney General to admit certain lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens returning to the United States who temporarily proceeded abroad voluntarily and not under an order of deportation or removal, effective as of a specified date, as if certain sections of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 had not been enacted. Revises provisions respecting judicial review of removal orders.Requires the Attorney General to establish a post-proceeding removal relief process for affected aliens.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Foreign Cultural Exchange
Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act''.

SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF JURISDICTIONAL IMMUNITY OF FOREIGN STATES.

(a) In General.--Section 1605 of title 28, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
''(h) Jurisdictional Immunity for Certain Art Exhibition
Activities.--
''(1) In general.--If--
''(A) a work is imported into the United States
from any foreign state pursuant to an agreement that
provides for the temporary exhibition or display of
such work entered into between a foreign state that is
the owner or custodian of such work and the United
States or one or more cultural or educational
institutions within the United States;
''(B) the President, or the President's designee,
has determined, in accordance with subsection (a) of
Public Law 89-259 (22 U.S.C. 2459(a)), that such work
is of cultural significance and the temporary
exhibition or display of such work is in the national
interest; and
''(C) the notice thereof has been published in
accordance with subsection (a) of Public Law 89-259 (22
U.S.C. 2459(a)),
any activity in the United States of such foreign state, or of
any carrier, that is associated with the temporary exhibition
or display of such work shall not be considered to be
commercial activity by such foreign state for purposes of
subsection (a)(3).
''(2) Exceptions.--
''(A) Nazi-era claims.--Paragraph (1) shall not
apply in any case asserting jurisdiction under
subsection (a)(3) in which rights in property taken in
violation of international law are in issue within the
meaning of that subsection and--
''(i) the property at issue is the work
described in paragraph (1);
''(ii) the action is based upon a claim
that such work was taken in connection with the
acts of a covered government during the covered
period;
''(iii) the court determines that the
activity associated with the exhibition or
display is commercial activity, as that term is
defined in section 1603(d); and
''(iv) a determination under clause (iii)
is necessary for the court to exercise
jurisdiction over the foreign state under
subsection (a)(3).
''(B) Other culturally significant works.--In
addition to cases exempted under subparagraph (A),
paragraph (1) shall not apply in any case asserting
jurisdiction under subsection (a)(3) in which rights in
property taken in violation of international law are in
issue within the meaning of that subsection and--
''(i) the property at issue is the work
described in paragraph (1);
''(ii) the action is based upon a claim
that such work was taken in connection with the
acts of a foreign government against members of
a targeted group as part of a systematic
confiscation or misappropriation of works in a
manner similar to the actions of a covered
government in subparagraph (A);
''(iii) the taking occurred after 1900;
''(iv) the court determines that the
activity associated with the exhibition or
display is commercial activity, as that term is
defined in section 1603(d); and
''(v) a determination under clause (iv) is
necessary for the court to exercise
jurisdiction over the foreign state under
subsection (a)(3).
''(3) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
''(A) the term 'work' means a work of art or other
object of cultural significance;
''(B) the term 'covered government' means--
''(i) the Government of Germany during the
covered period;
''(ii) any government in any area in Europe
that was occupied by the military forces of the
Government of Germany during the covered
period;
''(iii) any government in Europe that was
established with the assistance or cooperation
of the Government of Germany during the covered
period; and
''(iv) any government in Europe that was an
ally of the Government of Germany during the
covered period; and
''(C) the term 'covered period' means the period
beginning on January 30, 1933, and ending on May 8,
1945.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
to any civil action commenced on or after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
. Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal judicial code with respect to denial of a foreign state's sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction of U.S. or state courts in commercial activity cases where rights in property taken in violation of international law are in issue and that property, or any property exchanged for it, is: (1) present in the United States in connection with a commercial activity carried on by the foreign state in the United States, or (2) owned by an agency or instrumentality of the foreign state and that agency or instrumentality is engaged in a commercial activity in the United States. The bill grants a foreign state or certain carriers immunity from federal or state court jurisdiction for any activity in the United States associated with a temporary exhibition or display of a work of art or other object of cultural significance if: the work of art or other object of cultural significance is imported into the United States from any foreign country pursuant to an agreement for its temporary exhibition or display between a foreign state that is its owner or custodian and the United States or U.S. cultural or educational institutions; and the President has determined that such work is culturally significant and its temporary exhibition or display is in the national interest. The bill denies immunity, however, in cases concerning rights in property taken in violation of international law in which the action is based upon a claim that the work was taken: (1) between January 30, 1933, and May 8, 1945, by the government of Germany or any government in Europe occupied, assisted, or allied by the German government; or (2) after 1900 in connection with the acts of a foreign government against members of a targeted group as part of a similar systematic confiscation or misappropriation of works. For purposes of these denials of immunity, the court must determine that the activity associated with the exhibition or display is commercial and that determination must be necessary for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the foreign state.