The House Judiciary Committee passed the Never Forget the Heroes Act, which would extend funding for medical costs of 9/11 survivors and first responders, a day after advocates made an emotional plea to Congress.
The bill, passed unanimously in committee, now goes to the House for a full vote.
The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund was supposed to last through 2020 but has dried up after an increase in claims.
“It’s time for us to give responders and survivors peace of mind once and for all and pass this long-term reauthorization to make sure the VCF will be there for them as long as they need it,” Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said.
On Tuesday, comedian Jon Stewart derided Congress for appearing not to care about the issue, calling them “shameful” for not attending a hearing on the matter.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves for not being here,” he said in testimony to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. “Accountability appears to not be something that occurs in this chamber.”
