The Obama administration has maintained this stance [CNN report] as the legislation progressed through Congress.
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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. It submits those countries to a whole list of limitations and restrictions that isolate them not just from the USA, but in many cases, the rest of the world, he said. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “If they’ve done nothing wrong, they have nothing to worry about”. Administration officials cited fears that foreign governments might exploit the legislation to drag American officials into court. Saudi Arabia, a close USA ally in the Middle East, has voiced strong opposition to the bill.
Lawmakers felt intense pressure from families of the victims of the attacks, who wanted the legislation passed before the 15th anniversary of 9/11 on Sunday, which may account for the bill jumping from a committee room to an expedited vote on the House floor.
Since then, they’ve fought vigorously for the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act.
“Please, Mr. President, don’t slam the door shut and abandon us”, the letter continued.
“It only applies to acts of terrorism that are supported or funded or planned by a foreign government”, King said.
“The White House is concerned the bill could open up the United States to numerous lawsuits, Earnest noted”.
In April, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that it was “difficult to imagine a scenario where the president would sign it”. The head of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, added his criticism too, saying the law would contradict “established norms of the worldwide law”, according to Egypt’s state news agency MENA.
But in Congress, the bill has strong support.
The bill passed unanimously in the House on Friday and passed unanimously in the Senate in May. The Senate version boasts 24 co-sponsors, including such unlikely allies as Sen.
Cornyn, who cosponsored the bill in the Senate with Democrat Chuck Schumer of NY, defended the legislation, saying it “doesn’t mention any foreign government at all”. The bill has yet to be presented to Obama.
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“He should not delay, so that Congress can quickly decide whether to override that veto”, Cornyn said.
