San Francisco (Obama.net)- While it has been over nine years since the World Trade Center in New York City was under attack in a terrorist attack, the issues resulting from the tragic day are clearly still being felt all over the world, especially by those directly involved in the events of that day.
Congress is currently debating on whether or not to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health Bill. The bill would see survivors and responders from that day who came in contact with the toxic fumes get medical coverage at no expense to them.
Currently, the bill is stalled in the United States Senate.
Monday, Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, held a press conference alongside firefighters, policemen and women, and policy makers asking the Senators of this nation to pass the bill.
Bloomberg told reporters, “The time for excuses is over. The Senate has a full week ahead of it and should not adjourn until it passes the bill.”
The New York City mayor made it clear that the funding for the medical coverage is available and would not have to come at the expense of the national deficit.
Republican Peter King told the media that numerous men and women who were there that day nearly one decade ago are dying because they were either the unfortunate subjects of a terrorist attack or they were the ones who put their lives on the line to save their fellow Americans. As a result, “We are absolutely obligated to pass this bill for them,” said King.
Democrats in the Senate have made some alterations to the bill that they hope would be enough for Republicans to be willing to pass the bill.
Bloomberg spoke poorly of the political games being played in the Senate and called them “a tragic example of partisan politics trumping patriotism.”
Republicans say that the $7.4 billion that the plan would cost is just too much.
In contrast, Democrats are taking the stance that the government owes it to those men and women who were affected on that day to spend the money to assure their health.
“A Christmas miracle” is expected by Democrats in the Senate as they are expecting the bill to be passed by the end of the week after a few more days of compromising with the Republicans in order to meet in the middle so the responders and survivors of that day can get the help they need and deserve.
Leave a Reply