Republicans Let 9/11 First Responders Bill Expire

GOP Block On 9/11 Responders Bill

 

9/11 survivors are calling out Republican lawmakers for backing a new bill that would undermine the effort to revive the expiring Zadroga Act helping sick first responders.

“On the day that they (Republicans) swore in the new speaker, they introduced another bill — a bill that would gut and kill the program,” Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said at the World Trade Center on Monday. “That is no way to treat our heroes.”

Why did the Republicans suddenly throw an alternative bill in our way? Because there are enough votes to pass this bill,” said Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y. “They don’t want this bill to pass so they’ve come up with their own product, which they know is never going to pass the Congress, never be signed by the president. I think that that’s dishonest.

And since Republicans control the House, they decide which bill gets debated.

If nothing is done, the Zadroga Act will completely expire in late 2016.