However, a presidential veto can ultimately be overridden by a two-thirds majority of both houses of Congress. It would be the first time Obama would be dealt such a blow during his presidency.
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One of the fears held by the Obama administration is that that the law could open the USA government up to lawsuits in countries around the world, Earnest said.
“It’s not hard to imagine other countries using this law as an excuse to haul US diplomats or USA service members or even USA companies into courts all around the world”, Earnest told reporters in a daily briefing.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he hopes Obama rethinks the veto threat.
One World Trade Center is seen behind U.S flags on the morning of the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, in Lower Manhattan in New York September 11, 2015. It also allows Americans to direct financial damage claims against those who funded the attacks.
The Federal Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 had been used to shield Saudi Arabia from lawsuits over the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The Senate passed the measure in May.
Analysts believe that Obama relies on the support of democrats especially that some of them had already voted for the bill for electoral purposes.
The announcement came hours before Obama held a bipartisan meeting in the Oval Office with congressional leaders on averting a government shutdown and funding to combat the Zika virus.
“That was a concern we have expressed to members of Congress in both parties, ” he said.
The White House reiterated that the “continued operation of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay weakens our national security by draining resources, damaging our relationships with key allies and partners, and emboldening violent extremists”. Yet others say that the repercussions for the USA government could be “inestimable”, as The Los Angeles Times argued in an editorial.
The Senate has been aiming to leave the capital as soon as this week and the House next week.
Conservative opposition to the emerging budget deal remains, but negotiators worked through the weekend on the details.
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The Obama Administration argument boils down to the idea that the United States commits so many atrocities overseas itself that opening this Pandora’s box could really open the U.S. government up to similar suits from its assorted victims. Those provisions would have restricted any of the money from going to affiliates of Planned Parenthood in Puerto Rico.
