Why do the 9/11 ill heroes beg Congress for money?

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Legend of the mediaJon Stewart's emotional plea to Congress

A US congressional panel voted in favor of an extension of the September 11th compensation fund, a day after comedian Jon Stewart assailed the legislature for its inaction.

Stewart appeared at Capitol Hill on Tuesday, calling it "shameful" that many legislators did not attend the meeting to hear first responders.

The actor testified in favor of the bill, which extends funding for medical care to first responders on September 11.

The measure now moves to the US House of Representatives for a full vote.

The Victims Compensation Fund (VCF) covers the medical expenses of first responders, volunteers and injured or sick survivors at Ground Zero following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.

Wednesday's vote, nearly two decades after the disaster, aims to extend the fund until the 2090 financial year.

"They did their job with courage, grace and tenacity," he told the Judicial Committee of the House of First Responders. "Eighteen years later, do yours."

Legend

Luis Alvarez and Jon Stewart, former host of the Daily Show, appear before the Congress

Even though it was supposed to be funded until 2020, its directors say that a recent increase in the number of claims for compensation has left the fund in danger of depleting it.

"Your indifference has cost these men and women their most precious asset: time," said Stewart Tuesday.

How did we come here?

Nearly 80,000 people – including firefighters, police, first aiders, contractors, and cleaning staff – reportedly rushed to help victims in the aftermath of 9/11.

In doing so, many exposed to toxic debris in the air, including asbestos, lead and sprayed concrete, responsible for silicosis.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they would join approximately 400,000 people who were exposed to toxic contaminants, injury or trauma in Manhattan that day.

In September 2018, 2,000 deaths were attributed to an 11 September-related illness. At the end of last year, many people believe that more people died from toxic exposures than those who were killed during the attack.

At the hearing on Tuesday, Luis Alvarez, a former police detective from the New York Police Department, said he had survived 68 cycles of chemotherapy to fight the cancer associated with September 11th.

"This fund is not a ticket to heaven," he said. "He is there to support our families when we can not."

Congress action

The VCF was created in 2001, immediately after the attacks. This original VCF has distributed more than $ 7 billion (£ 6.2 billion) to the families of more than 2,880 people who died and 2,680 injured.

In 2006, Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and New York Representative Carolyn Maloney co-sponsored a bill that eventually became James Zadroga's 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which reactivated FCV.

The act was adopted despite Congressional Republicans' efforts to block it.

A lady of September 11th dies of a cancer
US Congress Supports September 11 Health Act

In December 2010, in the midst of the political turmoil caused by the Zadroga Act, Stewart devoted an entire episode of his Comedy Central show to the fund.

Some attribute to him his eventual approval after the signing of the law by President Barack Obama in 2011.

Although it was originally authorized to accept applications until October 2016, the fund's deadline has been extended to December 2020.

A total of $ 7.38 billion was allocated to this second iteration of the Venture Capital Fund.

By May 31, 2019, it had awarded more than $ 5 billion to nearly 22,500 people who had suffered September 11, including the families of 850 people who had died.

Where are we now?

On Tuesday, Rupa Bhattacharyya, who administers the fund, testified before Congress that he would soon run out of money.

Bhattacharyya said the VCF had received a record number of new applications received in 2018 and was already on track to exceed that number this year.

In the first five years of the fund, up to December 31, 2016, about 19,000 compensation forms have been filed, said Mr. Bhattacharyya.

"Over the next two years, until December 2018, nearly 20,000 additional compensation forms were filed, and an additional 7,700 compensation forms have been filed so far in 2019."

The increase in the number of claims left the VCF at the risk of a considerable financial deficit. As a result, future payments to 9/11 victims and their families could be reduced by 70%.

The bill adopted Wednesday by the judicial committee aims to sustain the VCF and grant him additional funds. A specific amount has not yet been allocated.

"There is no other choice," said New York Representative Carolyn Maloney, sponsor of the bill. "This bill is about keeping our promise never to forget." And we will not stop fighting until we guarantee that this program will be there for anyone and anyone who needs it. "

Legend

The Tribute in Light, which marks the anniversary of September 11th

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