by Tyler Fransen
On Wednesday, Sept. 28, a controversial bill that was vetoed by President Obama was sent back to the senate where they overrode the president’s veto, effectively making the bill a law.
The bill’s measure would enable the surviving families of victims of the 9/11 terror attacks to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for the country’s alleged involvement in supporting Al-Qaeda operatives.
Obama vetoed the “Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act,” however, the senate voted to override the veto, marking the first time in Obama’s administration of a veto being overridden. The vote in the senate was 97-1 in favor of rejecting the veto, with the House of Representatives voting 348-77. The Washington Post reports that Sen. Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. was the lone senator to vote no on the override.
Critics of the bill say that it could create diplomatic problems in the future should other individuals decide to sue other nations or for individuals outside the U.S. to sue the American government.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., co-signed the original bill with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Schumer said in a statement, “Overriding a presidential veto is something we don’t take lightly, but it was important in this case that the families of the victims of 9/11 be allowed to pursue justice, even if that pursuit causes some diplomatic discomforts.”
The Obama administration and several other lawmakers disagree, saying that the diplomatic problems this bill opens up could set a precedent for other nations to sue U.S. military members and the U.S. government, which could create further issues between sovereign nations.
For now there are no reports of lawsuits entering U.S. courts against Saudi Arabia, but so long as the bill is law families of the victims of 9/11 are able to do so. There is also no indication of whether further action on the legislation and possible court rulings on the legislation will take place.
