美国国会推翻奥巴马对911法案的否决

AS IT IS 2016-09-30 US Congress Overrides¹ Obama Veto of 9/11 Bill 美国国会推翻奥巴马对911法案的否决

The United States Congress has voted to overrule a presidential veto of a bill supported by families of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The bill would let the families take legal action against Saudi Arabia for the attacks.

Both houses of congress voted Wednesday to reject President Barack of Terrorism Act.

Obama's first veto setback²

The House of Representatives voted 348 to 77 to overrule the veto. In the Senate, the vote was 97 to one. A two-thirds majority is required to cancel the president’s action. It was the first time in Obama’s presidency³ that Congress has overturned one of his vetoes.

Under the legislation, U.S. courts will have power to consider cases against foreign states that support terror acts carried out on U.S. territory. Claims can involve terrorism-related injuries, death or damages.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks were from Saudi Arabia.

Opens door for Saudi lawsuits⁴

Some relatives of the victims accuse Saudi Arabia of backing the attackers. They plan to bring cases against the Saudi government in U.S. courts. Saudi Arabia has long denied any part in the attacks.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas is a member of the Republican Party. He believes the legislation will send a message to international sponsors of terrorism.

“The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act will send a strong message to those who sponsor terrorist attacks on American soil, including foreign governments, [they] will answer to those victims and pay for the death and destruction they cause.”

President Obama opposed the measure because it would limit the idea of sovereign immunity⁵. Sovereign immunity is the legal policy that protects a government or its agencies from legal action.

The Obama administration has said the bill could endanger Americans working overseas.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer, a member of the Democratic Party, said he favored the bill, to finally give terrorist victims a chance at justice.

“The victims of 9/11 and other terrorist attacks have suffered such pain and heartache. But they certainly should not be denied justice.”

The president told CNN television he thought the congressional action was “basically a political vote.”

“Sometimes you have to do what's hard. And, frankly⁶, I wish Congress here had done what's hard.”

CIA director opposed

The director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John Brennan, said he thinks the bill will have “grave implications” for U.S. national security.

By failing to support the sovereign immunity standard for other countries, “we place our own nation’s officials in danger,” he said.

Brennan added that the bill could also make the Saudi government less willing to cooperate with the United States in anti-terrorism efforts.

Words in This Story

sovereign immunity – n. the idea that a government is protected from legal action without its consent or acceptance

grave – adj. very serious

overrule – v. to rule against something or someone

sponsor – n. a person who takes the responsibility for someone else or something

1 overrides   

越控( override的第三人称单数 )； （以权力）否决； 优先于； 比…更重要

参考例句：

• The new rule overrides all the previous ones. 新规则使以前的所有规则失效。
• The application configuration file setting overrides the machine configuration file setting. 应用程序配置文件设置重写计算机配置文件设置。

2 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

3 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

4 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

5 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

6 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。