Long-Term 9/11 Funding Bill Moves Closer to Reality

The House Judiciary Committee passed the Never Forget the Heroes bill Wednesday that will extend the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund until 2090. The bill would ensure all victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — and their families — will be compensated throughout their lives. It now must pass the full House of Representatives and the Senate before it can be signed into law by the president. The extension would especially help any 9/11 victims, first responders or bystanders that may develop mesothelioma linked to the estimated 400 tons of asbestos that was released in New York City after the twin towers fell. The bill does not call for a specific amount of money, but almost $5.2 billion already has been paid since 2011 to 22,500 victims, according to fund records. Another 21,000 claims remain pending. The original 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund was created in 2001, but different versions of the original law have had to be repassed, mostly in five-year increments. Money in the Fund Is Drying up Funding for the current law was set to expire in 2020. Earlier this year, Fund Administrator Rupa Bhattacharyya said it no longer had enough money to pay all legitimate claims. Many victims have been receiving benefits reduced up to 50%. The continued funding of the bill is designed to pay survivors and families of those affected by the attack, covering all medical expenses. It covers those near the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and those in...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news