Republican Senators express concerns over GOP colleague’s proposed 9/11 bill

Some Senate Republicans are expressing their ideologies pertaining to the GOP colleague's bill which allows families of September 11, 2001 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia.

According to Chron, the proposed bill is being firmly supported by Senate Democrats even though it would put them at odds with the White House. House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi said she's still skeptic since the bill could lead to 'collateral damage' and needs thorough examination.

The bill proposed by Texas Sen. John Cornyn would severe the relations of the countries as Saudi Arabia already threatened to pull billions of dollars from the economy should US approve the legislation. The unease among Republicans over Cornyn's bill mirrors that of an administration they are frequently at odds with on foreign policy issues.

Similarly, Yahoo reported that the Supreme Court already ruled that the families of victims in the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut and attacks linked to Iran can take advantage of the nearly $2 billion frozen Iranian funds. Now, the debate over Cornyn's bill underscores the challenges of giving the victims' families with closure and compensation since the event happened 15 years ago. Also, more than a dozen relatives of the 9/11 attack already called President Barack Obama to back the legislation and release information that links Saudi in the attacks.

However, ABC News published that Sen. Lindsey Graham said Cornyn's bill could lead to unintended consequences that stem from US' support for the rebels of Syria battling the Islamic State. Also, Senator John McCain, Republican, said if the legislation would pass, it would alienate Saudi Arabia and undermine a longstanding relationship with a US ally in the Middle East.

Graham, the chairman of the Senate subcommittee that controls foreign aid, has added that he'll block the bill from moving forward in the Senate floor until there are assessments which will ensure that the bill won't backfire. His apprehension is that the country will be vulnerable to suits once they've opened the door for US citizens to charge Saudi Arabia. 

Tags

Saudi Arabia, Democrats, Republicans, Barack Obama, John Cornyn, Supreme Curt, senators, 9-11, September 11 bill

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