U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Martha McSally (R-AZ) on Tuesday applauded U.S. Senate advancement of a bipartisan bill providing permanent federal funding to support 9/11 victims.
Many of the 9/11 survivors have become ill and others have died after exposure to a cancer-causing concoction of toxic chemicals present at the terrorist plane crash sites at Ground Zero in New York City, Shanksville, Pa., and the Pentagon in Arlington, Va.
“Today, Congress made good on our country’s promise to never forget the heroism, service and sacrifices from 9/11,” Sen. Gardner said.
The Senate on July 23 voted 97-2 to pass the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act, H.R. 1327, whichnow heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. The U.S. House of Representatives on July 12 passed the bill, 402-12.
“We should honor those who put others’ lives before their own and it’s tremendous to see Congress finally come together to make it right,” said Sen. McSally.
H.R. 1327 will permanently extend the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) through 2092 for individuals who suffered physical harm or families of those who were killed due to the 9/11 crashes or from the debris removal efforts that occurred immediately after the attacks.
“We have already seen the human toll on those who protected their fellow Americans — now it’s time to pay them back with the certainty they deserve,” Sen. McSally said.
Original legislation, which authorized funds to provide medical monitoring and treatment through the VCF and the World Trade Center Health Program, received congressional approval in 2010 and 2015.
However, increasing numbers of survivors face reduced awards due to dwindling funds, as well as the pending expiration of the VCF next year.
“While this bill will not stop 9/11 first responders from becoming ill, it gives them the support they’ve earned and desperately need,” said Sen. Gardner. “I look forward to the president quickly signing this bill into law.”