The measure was approved by voice vote Friday. The Saudi foreign minister personally visited Washington and told lawmakers Saudi Arabia would be forced to sell up to $750 billion in treasury securities and other assets if the law passes, because of the potential for US courts to freeze the assets on behalf of 9/11 families.
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Critics of the bill, including the White House and State Department, have said the legislation would have risky consequences overseas and for USA citizens, including the potential for retaliatory lawsuits.
President Obama vowed again to reject the measure, but Republicans could overturn one of his vetoes for the first time if they secure enough votes.
Currently, any foreign country can invoke immunity in USA courts unless it has been explicitly designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Saudi officials have long denied that the kingdom had any role in the plot of the 2001 terror attacks which killed almost 3,000 people in New York, Washington D.C area and Pennsylvania.
In April, Ryan said of the bill, “We need to make sure we are not making mistakes with our allies”.
The government in Riyadh has mounted an “aggressive” campaign to defeat the legislation, Politico noted, relying on many lobbyists in Washington.
The White House has expressed opposition to the bill.
Sens. Chuck Schumer of NY and Richard Blumenthal of CT, both Democrats, called on Obama to sign the bill.
The vote came after House members from both parties briefly adjourned to commemorate the anniversary of the attacks. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudis.
Saudi Arabia has warned such a bill could jeopardize the nation’s relationship with the U.S.. “We urge you to sign this bill without delay”, the two senators wrote in the letter, which was released hours after the legislation passed the House unanimously. The allegations were never substantiated by later US investigations into the terrorist attacks. The bill heads soon to President Obama’s desk, testing whether the White House will follow through on warnings that the president could veto.
“Today’s vote sends an unmistakable message that we should combat terrorism with every tool we have, and that the families of those lost in attacks like that on September 11th should have every means at their disposal to seek justice”, Cornyn said in a statement.
“In fact what they (Congress) are doing is stripping the principle of sovereign immunities, which would turn the world for worldwide law into the law of the jungle”, Al-Jubeir said. The report cited the reason for a “limited understanding” of Saudi Arabia’s role and financing of terror groups as an unwillingness to investigate “due to Saudi Arabia’s status as an American ‘ally'”.
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Saudi Arabia has already made it clear that they intend to remove USA investments in retaliation if the legislation is passed. Because the US and Saudi are now in talks about the war on ISIS.
