The House of Representatives has approved legislation aimed at making it easier for heirs of Holocaust victims to recover art looted by the Nazis. The measure extends and strengthens a 2016 law that was set to expire at the end of the year, and it now heads to President Donald Trump for consideration.

The original law allowed heirs more time to file claims, granting up to six years after locating or identifying stolen artwork. However, courts have sometimes ruled in favor of museums and other current owners, arguing that the passage of decades made it difficult to fairly defend against such claims. The new bill seeks to limit those time-based legal defenses, tilting the balance further toward claimants.

Supporters, including a bipartisan group of senators and Holocaust advocacy organizations, argue that some museums and institutions have relied on procedural defenses to retain possession of stolen works. Meanwhile, certain museums and European parties have expressed concern that eliminating these defenses goes too far and undermines fairness in longstanding disputes.