9/11 Health Bill Gets Key Nod
BY MICHAEL MCAULIFFNew York Daily News
July 30, 2009
WASHINGTON – A $14 billion health proposal to permanently help the victims of 9/11 won a vote in the House for the first time yesterday.
The plan calls for more than $5 billion to provide health care for the thousands of people sickened by their exposure to Ground Zero and up to $8.4 billion to pay compensation to people racked by their losses.
“Eight years is long enough to finally get proper care,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan).
“We have moved one step closer to providing the survivors and first responders the care and compensation they deserve,” added Rep. Pete King (R-L.I.), who was credited with coaxing several other Republicans to back the bill. A companion proposal is working its way through the Senate.