Long debates are ongoing between USA administration officials and democratic legislators to reconsider the bill in an attempt to find a way to avoid collision between the Obama administration and Congress.
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The White House confirmed Tuesday that President Obama plans to veto newly passed legislation allowing the families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia – laying the groundwork for a showdown with Congress.
But Mr Obama could also use what is called a “pocket veto” – where he sits on a bill under the Congressional session ends – as lawmakers are due to leave Washington this week in order to prepare for the national elections on 8 November.
The legislation gives victims’ families the right to sue in US court for any role that elements of the Saudi government may have played in the 2001 attacks that killed almost 3,000 people.
The bill would override current Saudi claims to sovereign immunity, allowing families of September 11 terrorist attacks victims to bring a long-standing federal court case against the Saudi government for allegedly sponsoring the attacks.
A statement from the White House Office of Management and Budget says Guantanamo weakens national security by draining resources and emboldening violent extremists.
The bipartisan bill gained final approval Friday in the House.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on May 2 that the kingdom had warned the United States that the proposed law would erode global investor confidence in America.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he hopes Obama rethinks the veto threat.
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On Friday, the House of Representatives approved a bill passed by the Senate in May which would allow the families of the almost 3,000 people who died in the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in NY and the Pentagon in Pennsylvania on 11 September 2001 to sue for damages. Votes from two-thirds of the members in the House and Senate would be needed to override.
