Lawmakers Push to Extend 9/11 Health and Benefits Programs for 25 Years

New York lawmakers gathered in the shadow of the World Trade Center site on Monday to call for Congress to reauthorize the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act just days before the 13th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks.

The current bill, passed in 2010, provides medical treatment and compensation through the World Trade Center Program and September 11th Victim Compensation Fund to first responders and others who became ill from Ground Zero. The programs have paid out more than $1.1 billion dollars to those affected by the attacks.

Those programs are set to start expiring in October 2015. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said that would mean the government had turned its back on heroes.

“That's not who we are as Americans,” said Gillibrand. “We stand by our veterans and these heroes should be treated no differently than the men and women who wear the uniform, because they too answered the call of duty when our nation asked.”

More than than 30,000 responders and survivors nationwide are sick and receiving treatment paid for by the act. There are also 800 New York Fire Department members and 550 from New York City Police department with 9/11-related illnesses. That does not include 70 firefighters and 60 NYPD officers who have died from those illnesses.

While there is bipartisan support for re-authorization from the New York City delegation, there is likely to be strong opposition from Republican lawmakers who raised concerns about the cost of the bill four years ago.

“There's no doubt there are people in the Republican party who are opposed to it,” said Congressman Peter King (R-Long Island). “But I'm in the Republican party and I was able to get it through the last time, so I'm hoping that — not hoping,I'm promising — I will do all I can and we will get it through.”