Senate Banking Committee Unanimously Passes Amendments Critical to Beirut Bombing Victims

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Family members and surviving victims of the 1983 Beirut bombings today expressed appreciation to Members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs for including amendments in S. 1048, the Iran Sanctions Bill, designed to strengthen the tools available to enforce and collect Iran judgments awarded to them by U.S. Courts.

"We are proud of this bipartisan stand against Iran and its heretofore unpunished attack on American servicemen that killed 241 Marines, soldiers and sailors. We commend all of the Senators on the Banking Committee for their fortitude and courage. We thank in particular Senator Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Kirk (R-IL) for co-sponsoring the amendments as well as Senator Brown (D-OH) and Senator Corker (R-TN) for speaking in support. Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-AL) also have our thanks," said Lynn Smith Derbyshire, whose brother, Marine Captain Vincent Smith was killed in the blast.

More than 60 family members from 20 states joined Ms. Derbyshire on Tuesday to visit Senate Committee Members from their states to urge support of their amendments.

"These Senators and their staffs saw us with very short notice and listened to our stories and logic. We simply could not understand how the Obama Administration could oppose amendments that would strengthen American law in further preventing Iran from getting away with terrorism-without-consequence. This is the kind of American congressional unity that will keep our nation strong," Ms. Derbyshire commented.

With the amendments passing unanimously, Ms. Derbyshire says her group urges other Senators to respect the Committee vote when the Bill comes to the Senate Floor. They also want the House and Senate Conferees to retain the amendments in the bill that goes to President Obama for his signature.

"We want these amendments to be part of the bill President Obama receives. We hope he will see how important these measures are to a lot of Americans who do not want Iranian terrorism to go unpunished and sign the bill into law," Ms. Derbyshire concluded.

This release is distributed by Saylor Company Public Relations Counsel under the authority and direction of Thomas Fay, Esq., legal counsel for the group mentioned.

SOURCE Saylor Company Public Relations Counsel under the authority and direction of Thomas Fay, Esq.