Jon Stewart and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand applauded for Highlighting the Effort to Make the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act Permanent

Washington—Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act applaud Jon Stewart and Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) for highlighting the need to reauthorize and make permanent the programs that are helping injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors on the Daily Show last night.

“Massive thanks are due to Jon Stewart and his guest, the tireless Senator from New York, Kirsten Gillibrand, for the Daily Show episode last night in which they highlighted the need to fully fund the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act—and make it permanent.” said Richie Alles, Deputy Chief, FDNY and Board Member of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act.

“During the interview, Jon Stewart asked, ‘Who is against this bill?’ Well, our organization has created an online tool that answers that question. Our ‘Take Action’ tool on our website identifies sponsors and non-sponsors—and also allows responders, survivors and their supporters to determine who their Members of Congress are and helps them to contact them in Washington, through phone calls, emails or tweets. We urge all 9/11 responders, survivors and their supporters to use it and take action today. We must all work to ensure that ‘Never Forgetting 9/11’ is not just a hollow political statement, but something that Members of Congress are in fact committed to doing,” Alles said.

Click here and Take Action Today

Background:

Stewart Devoted His Entire Final Show of 2010 to Passing Zadroga Bill
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/17/stewart-911-responders-bill_n_798114.html

Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act is a coalition of advocates who are working to make sure that Washington does the right thing and renews and extends the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.  More than 33,000 sick and injured 9/11 responders and survivors, many with 9/11 cancers, depend on the medical treatment and the compensation programs provided by this law. Over 70,000 participate in the World Trade Center Health Program, including responders to the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the Shanksville Crash site and survivors of the WTC attack and over 10,000 to date have been found eligible for compensation under the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund. 9/11 responders and survivors are now residing in every state and in 429 of 435 Congressional districts.

Unless Congress acts, the World Trade Center Health Program, as well as the September 11th Victim Compensation Program, are due to shut down, leaving thousands with no specialized health care for their 9/11 injuries and with their promised compensation being reduced by perhaps over 60% and leaving those expected to contract 9/11 cancers in the future with no help.

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