Senate Passes Bill Allowing Families of 9/11 Victims to Sue Saudi Arabia Government

Saudi Arabia earlier vowed to pull billions of dollars from the U.S. economy if the legislation is passed.

A woman places flowers on the name of a loved one during the memorial observances held at the site of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2014, in New York City. Andrew Burton/Getty Images

The U.S. Senate passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) on May 17, which would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Cornyn, (R-Texas), has put Congress against the Obama Administration.

JASTA was approved by a voice vote, and had prompted an earlier threat from Saudi Arabia—a Middle Eastern ally—which vowed to pull billions of dollars from the U.S. economy if the legislation is passed.

It is up to the House now to act on the legislation.

The bill would allow victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks to sue in U.S. courts for any role the Saudi government may have played.

“It will allow the victims of 9/11 to pursue some small measure of justice by giving them a legal avenue to hold foreign sponsors of terrorism accountable for their actions,” said Schumer in his floor speech.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) speak with Kaitlyn Strada (L) and Terry Strada (R), wife of Thomas Strada who died in the 9/11 attacks, after a news conference concerning the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), on May 17, 2016, in Washington, D.C. Drew Angerer/Getty Images