Chuck Schumer: “I thank my good friend from Texas for yielding and for the great job he has done. This is another example of bipartisan…”

“I thank my good friend from Texas for yielding and for the great job he has done. This is another example of bipartisan legislation and, in fact, another example of a Cornyn- Schumer collaboration, which works pretty well around here. Senator Cornyn and I have introduced this bill for the last three Congresses, first under the leadership of Senator Leahy and then under Senator Grassley. It has twice passed without objection through the Senate Judiciary Committee, once by the full Senate. I thank Senators Leahy and Grassley for their help as well. The bill is very near and dear to my heart as a New Yorker because it would allow the victims of 9/11 to pursue some small measure of justice by giving them a legal avenue to hold foreign sponsors of terrorism accountable for their actions. The courts in New York have dismissed the 9/11 victims' claims against certain foreign entities alleged to have helped fund the 9/11 attacks. These courts are following what we believe is a nonsensical reading of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. For the sake of the families, I want to make clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that every entity, including foreign states, will be held accountable if they are found to be sponsors of the heinous act of 9/11.…”