Democrats are wavering in their support for a bill that permits families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia as key lawmakers say they are undecided on overriding President Barack Obama's expected veto, a far cry from the unanimous support the legislation received in both chambers earlier this year, Politico reports.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said he wants to see Obama's reasons for opposing the bill before deciding, saying that "it would be incorrect for any member to think… that it may not have ramifications for the United States in other venues around the world.
"Having said that, I will reiterate," Hoyer continued, "I share and there is great sympathy among the Senate, the House, bipartisan, to assure that the American families who have suffered great grief and loss have an avenue to address their grievances."
The legislation would give courts the right to waive claims to foreign sovereign immunity in cases involving terrorist acts on U.S. territory.
One of the White House's main concerns about the bill is that it could open up American officials to legal retaliation in foreign courts.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said she was reconsidering her support for the legislation, because "it could bring on a whole host of unintended consequences."
But Obama has an uphill climb to convince the 34 senators necessary to sustain the veto.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told The Washington Post he expects the upper chamber to successfully override it.
"At whatever point the president vetoes it, we will have to take it up, and there will be a roll call vote on the veto override," McConnell said. "Our assumption is that the veto will be overridden."
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