WASHINGTON -- The year-long campaign to ensure the ailing firefighters, police officers, construction workers and other would continue to have federally funded special care ended Friday when Congress overwhelmingly approved an extension of the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
About three to four dozen first responders sat stony-faced as they watched the votes in both chambers on the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill for 2016 that includes an $8.1 billion Zadroga Act.
Afterward those who waited until the final vote was announced hugged, patted each other on the back and quietly said, “It’s a great day.”
The House passed it 313-113. The legislative package then moved to the Senate, which held a series of votes on it and finally approved it 65-33.
The Zadroga measure extends the World Trade Center Health Program for 75 years at a cost of $3.5 billion and renews the Victims’ Compensation Fund for five years and fully funds it at $4.6 billion.
The health program, which monitors and provide care for about 73,000 responders and survivors of the terrorist attacks in lower Manhattan, expired on Oct. 1. The compensation fund was set to end Oct. 1, 2016.
Copyright 2015 Newsday
Tribune News Service
