Statement from Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, Inc. on Senate Passage of Never Forget the Heroes Act

Today’s passage of the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act in the US Senate is 18 years of hard work, determination and courage in the making by responders, survivors and their supporters who walked the halls of Congress to get this done. After years of their pleas for help, injured and ill responders, survivors and their families will no longer be forced to beg their country to fully fund and make permanent the compensation they need and deserve.

Today’s overwhelming passage with 97 to 2 votes in favor in the Senate would not have been possible without the efforts of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who has been a relentless fighter for the 9/11 heroes and heroines. We also thank Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) who has been instrumental in this and past fights for 9/11 responders and survivors along with Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), for his leadership in making “Never Forget” a truly bipartisan fight.

The overwhelming votes in passing this bill and defeating amendments to weaken our legislative efforts give hope that just as responders rushed to help their country that tragic day, their country will always be there for them in their time of need.

We also want to thank Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Peter King (R-NY) for their bipartisan and relentless work that resulted in the House of Representatives passing the legislation by 402 to 12.

We also want to especially thank all those that worked to get this bill passed, the responders, survivors, family members, Unions and advocates who walked the halls, made calls and visits to their Representatives and worked with our advocates in Congress, Senators Gillibrand, Schumer and Gardner and their fellow 72 bipartisan co-sponsors and Representatives Maloney, Nadler and King and their 330 bipartisan co-sponsors and their staffs to make sure that “Remembering 9/11” would in fact be more than a Bumper Sticker.