It's time to make the terrorists pay!

Posted

This Thursday marks the 13th anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attacks ever on American soil. None of us will ever forget what happened that tragic day, and we continue to keep the families of those who died in our thoughts and prayers.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. has waged a continuous war against terrorism. And now two of New York’s elected officials are making sure that those who harbor and support terrorist organizations will be brought to justice.

I applaud Sen. Charles Schumer and Long Island’s own Congressman Peter King for reaching across party lines and working together to draft a bipartisan law, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA, one year ago. This law would allow the families of victims of terrorism to sue any foreign state found to have financed terrorist activity in the U.S. The bill is now on its way to the Senate Judiciary Committee and, according to Senator Schumer, the panel was scheduled to take it up on Sept. 11.

“Terrorism didn’t happen on its own,” Schumer said. "It took money. There were many countries and groups that funded Al Qaeda. Today similar groups are funding ISIS, and yet when these families wanted to sue these countries and groups, the courts told them they had no basis.”

That will now change.

No legislation will ever bring back a lost loved one, but, finally, many of the families who lost someone on Sept. 11 will gain some sense of justice.

I have full confidence that the proposed bill will soon be made law, marking a momentous victory for those who have been victimized by terrorism. The law will also make countries and groups think twice about funneling resources to terrorist organizations that plan on attacking American citizens.

Schumer and King are true fighters for the victims of terrorism, and will continue to ensure that any country or group that has financed terrorist groups will be held accountable.

It’s unfortunate that our president cannot commit the same way to this battle. For weeks in this space, I’ve pleaded with President Obama to reconsider his foreign policy, which continues to lack direction and consistency. We are now faced with an international foreign policy mess, and believe me, it’s frightening.

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