New 9/11 Bill Hits Last-Minute Snags, Large Cuts
Sources say the Energy and Commerce Committee is mistakenly cutting the bill and almost left off the name.
WASHINGTON -- Just when it looked like a new 9/11 health and compensation law was on the brink of being finalized -- and after House Speaker Paul Ryan threw his support behind it -- sources told The Huffington Post troubling last-minutes snags were emerging.
At one point, sources said, the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the health portion of the bill, had left off the name of the legislation -- the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. It was named after a New York City detective who died from illnesses he contracted working on the recovery efforts in the aftermath of the 2001 terror attacks.
"It just shows how inept and uncaring they are," said one advocate who requested anonymity while negotiations are still ongoing.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-911-bill_566a1b50e4b080eddf57c065
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Lawmakers have agreed to earmark $8 billion
About $3.5 billion will be designated for the World Trade Center Health Program, guaranteeing that more than 72,000 known responders and survivors will always have access to treatment, including more than 33,000 who already have 9/11-linked illnesses. The program will last 75 years, until 2090.
Another $4.6 billion will go to extend the 9/11 Victims Compensation Program for five more years, and fill an approximately 50 percent funding shortfall in the original program passed in 2010.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/congress-sept-11-responders_566effdbe4b0e292150e9994