State's six in Congress back override

WASHINGTON -- Legislation allowing family members of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to sue Saudi Arabia had the backing of the entire Arkansas congressional delegation.

The six lawmakers, all Republicans, helped to override President Barack Obama's veto of the legislation.

"I joined my colleagues today to override President Obama's veto as a matter of fairness," U.S. Sen. John Boozman of Rogers said in a statement. "The President was wrong to veto this bill. The victims of the 9/11 attacks and their families deserve their day in court."

At least four Arkansans died when the four commercial airliners were hijacked by Islamic extremists.

Sara Low of Batesville was a crew member aboard American Airlines Flight 11, the first plane to crash into the World Trade Center. She was 28.

Malissa White, originally from Bald Knob, worked in one of the towers. She was 37.

Nehamon Lyons IV, a native of Pine Bluff, was a Navy operations specialist at the Pentagon. He was 30.

Army Sgt. Maj. Lacey Ivory, who was born in Marvell, was also at the Pentagon. He was 42.

Lawmakers expressed sympathy for the relatives of the nearly 3,000 people who perished in the attacks.

"I support the victims and their families and their right to pursue justice," U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack of Rogers said the vote shows that Congress is united in its opposition to terrorism.

"The families who lost loved ones during the September 11 attacks deserve justice, and I am proud that we are able to give them their right to a day in court," he said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford of Jonesboro said the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act deserved passage.

"Ultimately, the victims of terror attacks deserve the ability to pursue justice when at all possible, and JASTA provides that ability to the 9/11 victims and their families," Crawford said in his statement.

A Section on 09/29/2016