US House to vote on 'anti-Saudi' 9/11 bill

The US House of Representatives is to vote on the controversial bill that would allow Riyadh to be sued over 9/11, but the White House is expected to veto.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

09 September, 2016

The fifteenth anniversary of 9/11 next week is of importance to many Americans [Getty]

The US House of Representatives on Friday is to vote on legislation that would allow victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York to sue the Saudi Arabian government.

Despite strong, vocal opposition from Saudi Arabia and the threat of a serious deterioration in relations between the two countries, the US senate voted unanimously in favour of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act in May.

Democrat Representative Jerrold Nadler said: "We wanted it [the bill] to come to the floor, symbolically before the 15th anniversary."

"We've been aiming toward that the entire session."

US president Barack Obama is expected to veto the bill however, as it could expose the US government to new threats of legal action from abroad. In order to override the president’s veto, more than two-thirds of members in the House and Senate need to vote against.

Republican Speaker Paul Ryan raised concern against the bill in April, saying: “We need to make sure we are not making mistakes with our allies.”

Terry Strada, national chair for 9/11 Families United For Justice Against Terrorism, disagreed with Ryan, saying: "If we're not funding terrorist organisations and killing people, then we don't have anything to worry about."