Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) released the following statement after the Senate passed his amendment to H.R. 2617 by a 93-4 vote to provide relief for 9/11 families and other U.S. victims of state-sponsored terrorism. The amendment is an expanded version of the bipartisan Fairness for 9/11 Families Act, which was approved by the House by a vote of 400-31 in September:
“Every so often, the stars align in the United States Senate and we are able to bring about truly historic moments on a bipartisan basis. Today’s successful vote to include my legislation alongside Senators Cotton and Sullivan to bring justice and relief for 9/11 families and other American victims of terrorism as an amendment to the omnibus spending bill is one of those moments. It has been a long road to get here, but finally, 9/11 families and other U.S. victims of state-sponsored terrorism will receive the justice they deserve. Today’s victory provides ‘catch-up’ payments to 9/11 widows and children who were unfairly excluded from the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, as well as to 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing and 1996 Khobar Towers bombing victims and their families.
“I want to thank Leader Schumer and Senators Booker, Blumenthal, Gillibrand, Murphy and Cornyn for cosponsoring my Fairness for 9/11 Families Act in the Senate and Congressman Nadler for leading this effort in the House of Representatives. But today really wouldn’t be possible without the fearless dedication and determined resolve of the families who have suffered at the hands state-sponsored terrorists. I am proud that, at long last, we were able get this done for them.”
###