Story highlights Senators passed bill that would let 9/11 victims and families to sue Saudi Arabia for its alleged involvement in the attacks

The White House opposes the legislation

Washington (CNN) In a rebuke to the White House, the Senate approved a bill Tuesday to allow victims and families of the 9/11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for its alleged involvement in the terrorist strikes.

The bill, which the White House opposes, House Speaker Paul Ryan expressed concerns about, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was slow to embrace, had stalled for months. It now heads to the House.

But in the end, the bill's authors -- John Cornyn of Texas, the second ranking Senate Republican, and Chuck Schumer of New York, the third-ranking Senate Democrat -- were able to pass the bill on a voice vote, a rare feat in the divided chamber, especially for a controversial issue.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest renewed the threat that President Barack Obama will veto the bill.

"Yes, as I think I've mentioned before it's given the concerns we've expressed it's difficult to imagine the President signing this legislation and that continues to be true," Earnest told reporters.

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