H.R. 1746: Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2008

110th Congress · introduced 2007-03-28 · Finance and Financial Sector · Latest: House Committee on Judiciary Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Jan. 3, 2009.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2007-03-28 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: House Committee on Judiciary Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Jan. 3, 2009. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2008

Plain summary

Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Requires insurers of Holocaust-era policies to: (1) respond within 90 days to written inquiries from eligible persons regarding such polices; (2) provide to such persons all information in the possession of such insurer regarding whether such person is a potential beneficiary; and (3) notify the Holocaust Claims Processing Office (HCPO) immediately in writing of the inquiry, with a copy of all acknowledgments and information provided to such eligible person. Terminates such requirement 10 years after enactment of this Act. Instructs the Secretary of State to: (1) seek to enter into an agreement with each European country with which no appropriate agreement exists to facilitate such response requirements; and (2) report annually to Congress on implementation of this Act. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to enter into an agreement with the HCPO to: (1) monitor compliance with requirements of this Act; (2) notify the Secretary of the identity of any insurer not complying with this Act within 30 days after the failure to comply; and (3) notify the certain congressional committees annually, including the Secretary and the Secretary of State, of the identity of each non-compliant insurer. Provides for the transfer of specified funds to the HCPO to implement its monitoring functions. (Sec. 5) Instructs the Secretary to assess a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 for each day that an insurer fails to comply with the requirements of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to seek to attach a lien on any payment from a U.S. domiciliary subsidiary of any insurer based outside the United States from which the Secretary is unable to collect a penalty. (Sec. 6) Sets forth a federal cause of action for any claim against an insurer arising out of or related to a covered policy. (Sec. 7) Expresses the sense of Congress that claimants have the right to opt out of new or ongoing class action proceedings relating to claims based on Holocaust-era insurance policies. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to use the voice and vote of the United States to create and advocate the policies of the Bank to encourage Eastern European countries to engage in and pursue restitution programs in compliance with this Act.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House amended, Part I), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

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PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2008

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House amended, Part I)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18] · 44 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1746, Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2007 (2008-02-06); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1746, Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2007 (2008-02-06); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1746, Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2008 (2008-07-29); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1746, Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2008 (2008-07-29)

Cosponsors on this site

Steve Cohen (D-TN), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House amended, Part I)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-110hr1746.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/110/hr>

Record fed-us-cong110-hr1746 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110