The House approved legislation to implement 2 international...

The House approved legislation to implement 2 international anti- terrorism treaties over the objections of some Democrats who warned that the creation of new death penalties could cause problems with American allies. The measure, passed 381-36, adjusts U.S. law to comply with an international convention for the suppression of terrorist bombings and another convention for the suppression of the financing of terrorism. The anti-bombing pact was initiated by the United States after the 1996 bombing attack on U.S. military personnel in Saudi Arabia. The treaty, which obligates nations to prosecute or extradite people involved in bombing attacks, was ratified by the Senate in 1999 and entered into force internationally in May this year. Several Democrats said that while they supported the treaties, they were concerned with language in the legislation that authorized the imposing of the death penalty for certain bombing crimes, saying it could make it harder to extradite terrorists from nations that don't have a death penalty. The Senate must still act on the legislation.