House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Tuesday that at the end of this week, the chamber will vote on legislation to extend the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.
“I’m pleased to announce the House will vote this Friday on the Zadroga Pfeifer Alvarez 9/11 #Renew911VCF. The heroes who ran into harm’s way that day deserve swift action,” he wrote on Twitter.
The measure will most likely pass the House easily before being sent to the Senate, CNN informs.
The House majority leader likewise thanked former late-night host Jon Stewart for urging Congress to extend the funding and Democratic Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Jerry Nadler of New York “for their advocacy on this issue.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also committed last month to hold a vote to extend the fund following his meeting with 9/11 first responder John Feal and several other first responders, Feal confirmed.
“Mitch McConnell made a commitment to the 9/11 community and my team leaders that he is going to help us get a piece of legislation that is going to be passed in the House in July, for an August vote in the Senate,” he said at the end of June.
The current law was last renewed four years ago and expires in 2020. The fund’s administrator has said it doesn’t have enough money to pay out all current and projected claims. Many of the first responders have suffered serious health issues in the aftermath of the 9/11 destruction. There have also been thousands of death and injury claims as a result.
The bill will be called Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act said the lead sponsors of the victim compensation fund bill, in honor of 9/11 first responder and advocate Luis Alvarez, who died last month.
“Luis Alvarez, Ray Pfeifer, and James Zadroga dedicated their lives to protecting others and advocating on behalf of those ailing after the 9/11 attacks,” Nadler said. “It is a fitting tribute to rename this legislation after these heroes who epitomized bravery and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”
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