The Senate passed a bill 97-2 Tuesday to fund the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund through 2090, compensating 9/11 first responders and victims who were injured during the 2001 terrorist attacks.
The bill was titled “The Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act” after for the three heroic NYPD and FDNY members who passed away from health complications due to their work at Ground Zero.
According to Roll Call, the new legislation would extend the life of the fund through fiscal 2090, ensuring access to compensation for all eligible victims. The number of victims suffering health problems who become eligible for the fund keeps rising, in part because of the time lag involved in diagnosing and developing cancer.
About 410,000 people were exposed to contaminants at Ground Zero, including 90,000 first-responders, according to the Congressional Budget Office, which cited data from New York City’s World Trade Center Health Registry.
While 22,400 claimants already have received payments from the fund, an additional 17,600 remain under review. And the CBO projected that 18,100 more claims would be filed and paid after Oct. 1 this year.
Last week, , FDNY firefighter (Engine 91) Richard Driscoll of Monroe (Orange County) passed away from 9/11-related illness. He is the 200th to die from a 9/11-related illness.
Watch Fox News Full Coverage of the Senate voting of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund Bill. It is followed by a press conference with NY elected officials and members of the FDNY.
Hear from 9/11 first responder advocate John Feal on passage of bill on 9/11 victims compensation fund
John Stewart comments on the long fight to get the legislation passed.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on the passing of the legislation.