Bipartisan vote could set the stage for a showdown with Barack Obama as the White House has signaled that the legislation would be vetoed

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The House has approved a bipartisan bill that would allow families of September 11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia.



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The measure was approved by voice vote on Friday.

Passage of the legislation puts Congress on a collision course with Barack Obama on the eve of the 15th anniversary of the attacks.

The Senate passed the bill in May by voice vote despite vehement objections from Saudi Arabia, a key US ally in the Middle East.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers from 9/11 were Saudi nationals.

The White House has signaled that Obama would veto the legislation over concerns about exposing Americans overseas to legal risks.

The Obama administration cautions that if US citizens can take the Saudis to court, then a foreign country could in turn sue the United States.