Congress Takes Steps to Ensure Justice for 9/11 Families with Law Making it Easier to Sue Saudi Arabia

Congress Takes Steps to Ensure Justice for 9/11 Families with Law Making it Easier to Sue Saudi Arabia

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Congress is on the verge of passing a groundbreaking bipartisan legislation aimed at providing financial recourse for families of the victims of the tragic September 11, 2001 attacks. The New York Post on Thursday reported that the proposed bill, known as the “Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act,” seeks to address loopholes in the current law that have allowed foreign countries, including Saudi Arabia, to avoid accountability for allegedly supporting terrorist activities. The bill has garnered significant support from lawmakers across party lines and is seen as an essential step towards delivering justice and accountability for the victims’ families, the report said.

September 11th, 2001, is a day forever etched in the memory of the American nation, as it redefined the way of life for its citizens. The devastating attacks orchestrated by the terrorist group Al Qaeda resulted in the loss of approximately 3,000 innocent lives, with the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City being the primary target. Of the 19 hijackers involved in the attack, 15 were Saudi Arabian nationals, including the mastermind, Osama bin Laden.

For years, families of the 9/11 victims have sought to hold foreign countries accountable for their alleged involvement in sponsoring terrorism. However, the Post report indicated that existing legal frameworks have allowed these countries, notably Saudi Arabia, to evade “aiding and abetting” claims related to supporting terrorist acts. The proposed legislation aims to address this issue by closing these loopholes and ensuring that foreign state defendants can be held accountable for their actions.

Representative Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) is the chief sponsor of the bill, which has received strong support from the New York congressional delegation, including representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn), as was reported by the Post. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) is leading the charge in the upper house, with support from New York’s Senators, Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

“There are a few days in a nation’s history that truly redefine its way of life; for our nation, September 11th, 2001, was one of those days,” said Van Drew on Thursday, the Post reported. He added that, “These necessary technical changes will ensure that the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act can truly fulfill its goal of delivering justice for American victims of foreign-sponsored terror.”

The legislation seeks to amend the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), which was initially vetoed by former President Barack Obama in 2016. The Post also reported that despite the veto, both houses of Congress voted overwhelmingly to override it, as they recognized the importance of allowing the families of 9/11 victims to pursue justice and accountability, even if it may cause diplomatic discomfort.

Advocates for 9/11 families have praised Congress’s efforts to pass this legislation, viewing it as a significant step in fulfilling the original promise of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, according to the Post report.  Terry Strada, the National Chair of 9/11 Families United, who lost her husband in the North Tower of the World Trade Center, has been a vocal proponent of the bill. The Post reported that she has accused Saudi Arabia of attempting to improve its reputation through sports sponsorship, such as the Saudi-monarchy-backed LIV Golf.

“This is important legislation that fulfills Congress’s original promise of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, and we are pleased to see the House working quickly towards enacting it so that we can continue our pursuit for accountability,” said Strada, according to the Post report.

While the proposed legislation is a crucial step towards justice for the victims of 9/11, it is important to acknowledge that the legal debate surrounding these issues remains contentious. Proving that foreign countries aided and abetted the terrorists responsible for the attacks presents a challenging legal hurdle. To date, no litigants in JASTA-related cases have recovered damages, highlighting the complexity of holding foreign states accountable for terrorism.