[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 148 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S6261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               JUSTICE AGAINST SPONSORS OF TERRORISM BILL

  Mr. WARNER. Madam President, yesterday I voted to override the 
President's veto of S. 2040, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism 
Act, or JASTA. I chose to support the motion to override after hearing 
from supporters of this bill, including the families of the 9/11 
victims, and considering the concerns that have been raised by the 
administration about the bill's potential unintended consequences on 
our national security and foreign policy.
  Ultimately, I believe that the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 
should have their day in court. Although I supported passage of the 
bill, I have grave concerns about the dangerous precedent of opening 
foreign sovereign immunity. I believe our national security and foreign 
policy could be put in jeopardy if reciprocal laws are enacted in other 
countries, with the potential to open U.S. citizens, officials, and 
servicemembers to foreign lawsuits in which they could be required to 
disclose classified or sensitive information as part of court 
proceedings in other countries.
  I have joined 27 of my colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to 
the bill's authors, Senators Schumer and Cornyn, laying out our 
concerns about the legislation and seeking their commitment to work 
with us to mitigate any potential consequences of enacting this 
legislation.

                          ____________________