On the recordDecember 17, 2024
it seems hard to imagine that it was 23 years ago when 3,000 Americans were killed in a terrorist attack in New York City and here in Washington, DC, at the Pentagon. The families who lost loved ones that day have been seeking access to justice, just like any other victim could and should be able to here in the United States. To that end, we introduced the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA, which was a monumental step to allowing those families who lost loved ones to achieve long-overdue closure in a court of law. It did not put our thumb on the scale, it didn't say they were entitled to anything; it just said they were entitled to present their arguments and the facts to a court of law just like any other American citizen should be able to do so here in our country. These terrorist attacks on 9/11 were a tragedy for our entire Nation; but for some, that day was a personal tragedy as well. Men and women who lost loved ones during the terrorist attacks deserve to have their day in court. Thanks to JASTA, as it is called, the Justice against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, that is now possible. This legislation, the Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, provides important updates and technical edits to the original bill. To show you the sort of bipartisan support that this carve-out in foreign sovereign immunity law received, it passed 97 to 1 back when it originally passed, and it passed over a Presidential veto by President Obama.…
Source
govinfo.gov




