Introduced the Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act , which would close loopholes in the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) to allow families of victims of terrorism to seek financial compensation from foreign sponsors of terrorism.
Support legislation to close loopholes so terrorism victims' families can seek financial compensation from foreign sponsors of terrorism.
Occurrences
Evidence
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Congress.gov identifies S.2040 as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, introduced September 16, 2015, and enacted as Public Law 114-222 on September 28, 2016 over a veto.
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Public Law 114-222 states its purpose is to let civil litigants seek relief against foreign countries and others that provided material support to terrorist activity against the United States.
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Section 1605B removes foreign-state immunity in U.S. courts when money damages are sought for injury, property damage, or death in the United States caused by international terrorism and a foreign state's tortious acts.
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The Senate vote on overriding the veto of S.2040, Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, was 97 yeas to 1 nay; Cornyn voted Yea.
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The House roll call on S.2040 after the presidential objection passed by 348 yeas to 77 nays, meeting the two-thirds threshold.
Assessments
Cornyn materially fulfilled the promise: he sponsored S.2040, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which narrowed foreign sovereign immunity so terrorism victims and families could seek money damages from foreign state sponsors of terrorism. The bill became Public Law 114-222 on September 28, 2016 after Congress overrode President Obama's veto, and Cornyn voted for the Senate override. This occurred during his 2015-2021 Senate term following his 2014 reelection, so the timing is same_term.