Following Emotional Hearing And Jon Stewart’s Outrage, Bill Allocating Money To 9/11 Victims Fund For 70 Years Moves To Full House
If it passes the House, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the upper chamber will handle the issue in a "compassionate way." The movement comes after a House committee hearing where comedian Jon Stewart criticized congressional feet-dragging on funding the trust.
Reuters:
House Panel Approves Permanent Sept. 11 Victims' Compensation
A U.S. congressional committee on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation to extend the fund compensating first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center for the next 70 years, a move that would avoid steep benefit reductions over a lack of money. The House Judiciary Committee acted one day after television personality and comedian Jon Stewart castigated lawmakers at a hearing for their slow response to helping New York City firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel who rushed to the scene of the attacks that left two of Manhattan's most well-known skyscrapers in rubble. (6/12)
The Hill:
Schumer Calls For Senate Vote On 9/11 Victim Fund
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that he is "begging" and "pleading" with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to hold a vote on legislation to extend the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. "The House Judiciary Committee just passed the fix to the Victims Compensation Fund. The full House will follow suit soon. As soon as the House passes this bill, it should be on the floor of the Senate immediately — as a stand-alone bill," Schumer said from the Senate floor. (Carney, 6/12)
The New York Times:
How Jon Stewart Became A Fierce Advocate For 9/11 Responders
Jon Stewart, speaking on Capitol Hill about the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, was not the cool, detached comedian that television viewers are accustomed to. Instead, faced with empty seats as he spoke on Tuesday to a House Judiciary subcommittee about a bill to secure funding for ailing Sept. 11 victims, the former host of “The Daily Show” was outraged, at times pounding his fist on the table, shouting at lawmakers and choking up as he came close to tears. (Gold, 6/12)
