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9/11 bill: US Senate blocks Barack Obama's veto on law that would allow families to sue Saudi Arabia | 9/11 bill: US Senate blocks Barack Obama's veto on law that would allow families to sue Saudi Arabia |
(35 minutes later) | |
The US Senate has voted to override President Barack Obama's veto of a bill that would allow families of 9/11 victims sue for damages from the Saudi government for the attacks. | |
In an overwhelming 97-1 vote, Congress is now a step closer to fully overruling the President's veto. If the House vote is successful later Wednesday afternoon, it will mark the first time Congress has successfully overruled a veto during Mr Obama's two terms. | |
"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," said Democratic New York Sen Charles E Shumer, who co-authoried the bill with Republican Texas Sen John Cornyn. | |
Minority leader Harry Reid was the sole dissenter in the vote. | |
Mr Obama vetoed the bill on Friday, citing concerns that the bill could open up US officials to foreign lawsuits. | |
"Removing sovereign immunity in US courts from foreign governments that are not designated as state sponsors of terrorism, based solely on allegations that such foreign governments' actions abroad had a connection to terrorism-related injuries on US soil, threatens to undermine these longstanding principles that protect the United States, our forces, and our personnel," Mr Obama wrote in his veto message to Congress. | |
Both the Senate and the House passed the bill unanimously in May. |