9/11 Health Bill Defeated In U.S House
Ailing 9/11 rescue and recovery workers were waiting years for help. They will have to wait some more. After intense debate late into Thursday night, the U.S House voted down a measure that would provide up to $7.4 billion in aid for health care and lost work compensation for thousands of responders sickened by the poison air at the World Trade Center.
Two weeks ago Democratic members of New Jersey's congressional delegation and the legislation's advocates were confident the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act would pass. However, in a move to avoid amendments by Republican opponents who are unhappy the measure will be paid for by closing tax loopholes for subsidiaries of foreign companies, among other issues, the Democratic leadership sent the bill to the floor under special rules that required a two-thirds majority. The bill received only 255 "yes" votes, with 12 Republicans backing it.
"We got here because of partisan politics. We got here because Washington is broken. Leadership failed us. I blame it on two parties who can't agree to help men and women who risked their lives without prejudice," said John Feal, a ground zero responder who lost half his left foot in the collapse of Seven World Trade Center. "While it failed, it is still a major victory because it got 255 votes."
Feal, now a leading advocate of legislation to help sick ground zero responders, said Congress will likely take up the measure again when lawmakers return from their August recess.
"9/11 responders, men and women, people from lower Manhattan, people from New Jersey, people from all over this country have to wait another six or seven weeks for Congress to get back from what I find to be a ridiculous vacation. Nobody deserves six weeks vacation," he said.
"I promise that we will get this bill passed. I have dedicated my life to this," Feal added.
Charles Giles, a retired EMT now confined to bed rest at his Barnegat home, said the defeat was very disappointing.
"It is very aggravating. It is disheartening, It is un-American," said Giles, who was pulled from the rubble of the north tower and now suffers from more than a dozen diagnosed illnesses.
"We have billions of dollars to spend in wars, one of which we don't belong in, and yet human life has taken a back seat to economics," he said.
Copyright 2010 by Millennium Radio New Jersey. All Rights Reserved.
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