House Unanimously Passes Bill Allowing 9/11 Lawsuits Against Saudi Arabia

The House unanimously passed a bill on Friday that would allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia for damages, setting up a clash between the legislative branch and the White House.

"This is a great day for America," said Republican Rep. Peter King of New York, speaking on the House floor before the vote.

"This is essential that justice be done," King added. "It is essential that 9/11 families have the right to bring action in American courts."

The measure has been met with objection by Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers from 9/11 were Saudi nationals.

The Senate approved the bill in May. However, the White House has tried to squash a bill from moving forward and it remains unclear if President Obama would veto the proposed legislation.

"We have serious concerns with the bill as written," a White House official told The Hill on Wednesday.

"We believe there needs to be more careful consideration of the potential unintended consequences of its enactment before the House considers the legislation," the official said. "We would welcome opportunities to further engage with the Congress on that discussion."

Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who introduced the bill, called on Obama to sign the bill, now that it has passed both houses.

"Today’s vote sends an unmistakable message that…the families of those lost in attacks like that on September 11th should have every means at their disposal to seek justice," Cornyn said in a statement. "It’s time to make this bill a reality, and I hope the President will sign it into law."

This story is developing and will be updated.

Photo credit: Katie Lips via Flickr Commons