Congress and Obama’s Battle Over the 9/11 Bill
What has come to be known as one of the worst acts of terrorism in America, the September 11 attacks, continue to be relevant in politics even today. Fueled by the victims’ families, Congress passed the 9/11 Bill with overwhelming support on Sept. 9, two days before the fifteenth anniversary of the event. This bill allows victims of the attacks and their families to sue Saudi Arabia for any damage caused, even though Saudi Arabia denied any connection with the terrorists. In order for the bill to be valid, Congress revised a previous law created in 1976 stating countries could not be sued by America or their citizens. It now allows other countries to be sued if connected to a terrorist attack that killed Americans in their home country.
President Barack Obama immediately expressed dissatisfaction for the 9/11 bill, saying it is against American values and would ruin foreign relations.
He claimed the bill “would neither protect Americans from terrorist attacks nor improve the effectiveness of of our response to such attacks.”
Obama announced his veto, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, against the bill on Sept. 23. The veto was received with mixed reviews by fellow politicians, but with disappointment by those affected by the attacks. For example, Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, called Mr. Obama’s action “disappointing”.
Even though several senators have stated their concern about the political and legal consequences of the bill, there was still a majority support in Congress. Congress voted to override the veto on Sept. 29, becoming the first override in Obama’s presidency.
