Renewal of the Zadroga Act, legislation that provides health benefits for first responders who grew ill after the Sept. 11 attacks, has been included in the year-end tax and spending bill Congress is to consider later this week.
An $8.1 billion measure to renew the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act will be included in a $1.1 trillion year-end tax and spending bill Congress is expected to consider as early as Thursday.
Under the agreement, the Victim Compensation Fund will be fully funded through 2021, and the World Trade Center Health program will be renewed until 2090.
Ina statement, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio
Here's how members of New York's legislative delegation reacted to the possibility of a permanent, 75-year renewal of the World Trade Center Health Program and a five-year, fully-funded renewal of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund:
- "Our 9/11 first responders never should have been forced to travel to Washington and walk the halls of Congress - legislation this important shouldn't have needed so much convincing - but after dozens of trips, they finally got the job done." Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.