The Senate last night voted unanimously to pass the Judicial Redress Act, a bill that lawmakers and international negotiators once viewed as critical to securing a new data-transfer pact between the United States and the European Union.

“We took a major step today toward strengthening America’s security, enhancing international commerce, and restoring relations with our European partners,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), the sponsor of a Senate version of the legislation, said in a Feb. 9 statement. “The Judicial Redress Act will cement the vital international relationships we rely on to fill gaps in law enforcement and support U.S. technology companies conducting business abroad.”

The U.S. and EU reached a new data-transfer agreement earlier this month.

The Judicial Redress Act, H.R. 1428, would give the citizens of U.S.-allied countries the right to sue federal agencies for mishandling their personal data. The House passed the bill in October, and the Senate yesterday passed an amended version of that bill, meaning the House will need to pass the amended version before it can be sent to President Obama.