The United States Senate has officially passed and reauthorized the September 11th Victim Compensation Funding Act, which will extend financial assistance for at least the next 70 years to people who suffered physical and mental illness because of their courage in the immediate aftermath of the devastating terrorist attack on America on September 11, 2001.
Both Democratic and Republican leaders praised the bill’s passage and the “brave first responders.” Several amendments by my Republican, Mike Lee of Utah, and Rand Paul of Kentucky, were defeated. The bill passed by a margin of 97-2. Lee and Paul were the two “no” votes.
Applause in chamber as Senate passes 9/11 relief fund supplement bill 97-2
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) July 23, 2019
Before the bill, officially known as “HR 1327: Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act,” was passed, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement:
“I know my colleagues don’t need a long lecture from me on the grave commitments this program represents—a commitment to the firefighters, police officers, and all the first responders who selflessly rushed to the World Trade Center just as the attacks began. To the first responders and workers who reported for duty days or even weeks later, risking their own health to aid others. A commitment to those who answered the call to the Pentagon and to Shanksville, Pennsylvania. And in cases where injury or illness had already taken the lives of these heroes, a commitment to their surviving families.
“Congress will never be able to repay these men, women and families for their sacrifices. But we can do our small part to try and make our heroes whole. That’s why the Senate has never neglected the Fund before. We weren’t going to do it now.”
The bill would permanently extend funding for 9/11 victims until 2090. As Townhall reports, comedian Jon Stewart has long been a supporter of the bill and an advocate for 9/11 heroes.
Stewart was on Capitol Hill today and reportedly thanked Senator McConnell for moving the bill forward.
.@McConnellPress walks past Jon Stewart in the Ohio Clock Corridor at the Capitol. The Senate will vote later today on HR 1327: Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. photo:twitter.com/bZ0FaOhTSl
— Bill Clark (@billclarkphotos) July 23, 2019
CNN reports that “The act is named in honor of James Zadroga, Luis Alvarez and Ray Pfeifer, two New York City police detectives and a firefighter who responded to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and died from health complications attributed to their work at Ground Zero.”
President Trump is expected to sign the bill within the next week.
