9/11 First Responders Bill Fails: Calls For Justice Go Unheeded 5 Years After Documentary (VIDEO)

Almost a decade after 9/11 first responders dropped everything to help others, legislation to pay for treatment of the diseases and debilitating effects that responders contracted is still being blocked by Senate Republicans.

The legislation was dealt its latest setback Friday, after Republicans moved to filibuster the bill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said he will bring up the legislation once more before the end of the session. The bill's defeat was already its second in the Senate this year.

A 2005 documentary by the Sierra Club follows four men who responded to the 2001 terror attacks and have paid with their health for doing so.

Five years later, their calls for justice go unheeded.

WATCH:

9-11 Forgotten Heroes : Sierra Club Chronicles from Christopher S. Johnson on Vimeo.

Comments

[David Olson]

03:36 PM on 12/20/2010

tears.............

[MeinNH]

11:39 AM on 12/20/2010

If you watch this and are not moved by the stories of these men, you have no soul.

[AyeChart]

12:25 PM on 12/20/2010

Being moved by the stories and then giving them an open-ended claim on the taxpayers is different.  There has to be some thought and logic applied.  Pure emotion produces bad legislation.

[David Olson]

03:40 PM on 12/20/2010

wow~~~so you think no emotion proves good legislation? Hmmm wonder how far civil rights would have come with that assumption.

[David Olson]

03:51 PM on 12/20/2010

I will admit emotions can't be the only measure for legislation~~~~the repubs for example using 911 and the emotion of fear indeed took us to Iraq.

[Urfubar12]

11:21 AM on 12/20/2010

Funny how they praised the first responders for years, touted them around like some trophy, like THEY did something. Same with our troops. Ship them off to war, tell them to be a patriot, die for our country and for our rights. But...there is a catch. Once you are done with your tour and you come back to the states, thats all you get. We won't help you acclimate yourself with being back home and not in a warzone. Who cares about PTSD...its a myth. Oh and as for the responders? You all are nothing but money grubbing deadbeats. And you can't prove all your illnesses were from saving my life! How dare you ask for money for doing your job! This way of thinking is so incredibly backwards it makes me wanna vomit and cry at the same time. For anyone that doubts what these HEROS did...please...watch the videos on youtube if you need a reminder. This just breaks my heart....my prayers are to you my heros!

[MeinNH]

11:40 AM on 12/20/2010

Fanned and Faved

[AyeChart]

12:27 PM on 12/20/2010

I think the left wing has now decided to use these people to try to get sympathy and to try to pretend to a concern for firemen, policemen, etc.  A concern that is surely faked because when they don't feel the need to pander for votes, they tend to disrespect the police and firemen--and the military, too.

[Urfubar12]

12:37 PM on 12/20/2010

And you don't think by Republicans blocking this is a sign of disrespect? And when have they insulted any of the above mentioned? And if you are a really paying attention, the Democrats could have throughly thrown the Republicans under the bus..and they should have..but they didn't. The American people are doing that. The dems could have mopped the floor with the repubs..no question...but look who took the higher road....AGAIN.

[David Olson]

03:41 PM on 12/20/2010

Yeah, just like your using the flag in your picture as to have us believe you are patriotic.

[MeinNH]

11:06 AM on 12/20/2010

I guess our elected officials feel that if they wear a flag pin they have done their duty. Shame on America!

[Urfubar12]

11:24 AM on 12/20/2010

Oh yes! Because Obama didn't wear a PIN he hates America. But if a Republican gives the big middle finger to the frist responders its totally ok. How disgusting...shame on them for sure!

[Soulsurfer]

09:44 AM on 12/20/2010

This is a true measure of just how cynical our leaders really are. Just as our vets always get the short end of the stick, the 9/11 responders are finding out just what our 'elected' representatives really think of them: schmucks. Patriotism is only for election time and scoundrels. Shame on the Congress. Shame.

[chaapai]

02:54 AM on 12/20/2010

I am just curious... Where is "America's Mayor"? Where is "Mr. Noun-Verb-9||"? Surely Mayor Giuliani is standing up for these heros. Right? I mean, this is his entire political schtick. I guess when you are no longer running for President, all the rhetoric takes a back seat. How quickly the heros are forgotten by those who wouldnt have the b@||$ to do what they did/do everyday for this country. How sad it is that so many that no nothing of service (there are some of course) are the ones making decisions against those that have given so much in the service of this country.
The Republicans should wear this vote as a badge of shame. Their credibility now in shambles.

[chaapai]

02:57 AM on 12/20/2010

know nothing, not: no nothing.

[lindaj3884]

01:02 AM on 12/20/2010

Republicans only support the 9/11 rescuers on tv. When it comes to putting the money where their mouths are they are out to lunch. They are a disgrace to the country. Fund the bill. The rescued people at ground zero. We owe them health care. Period.

[TOPCAT711]

12:17 AM on 12/20/2010

Beware of those who have nothing to lose.

[phoebequeen]

11:23 PM on 12/19/2010

this is truly an embarassing moment for america. we are always the first to help out every other country when there is a natural disaster, and yet we can't help the people who helped out our own? wtf?

[peachpage01]

12:18 AM on 12/20/2010

Agreed - it's truly shameful. If only the R's would be visited by 3 spirits on Xmas Eve, but then they would have to possess a spirit of sorts themselves that could even be touched. This is a stain that will not wash away.

[jimme]

10:47 PM on 12/19/2010

It'll be the same with the troops when they come back and alot of them will have head problems which the R's will once again deny any treatment for them. They served their purpose so they're no longer needed,or wanted. But hey,support the troops was a good slogan for the R's. And like every other thing they say,it's all just horsehockey and once again the mindless followers will put them in power.

[Gary Crum]

09:14 PM on 12/19/2010

the failure to provide adequate health care for first responders is reminiscent of the failure to address the thousands of Viet vets who were exposed to Agent Orange....just don't do anything, deny, deny, put it off and, presto, they die and you don't have to do anything.....

[Patchdee]

04:09 AM on 12/21/2010

You got that right! Rep. Grayson was right, the Republlican Health Care Plan
1) Don't get sick.
2) If you do get sick, die quickly!!

Absolutely disgusting and shameful!

[1donewrong]

08:36 PM on 12/19/2010

This is jut ridiculous. These guys are covered by NYC healthcare plan thru their unions. NYC just doesn't want to pay and expects the taxpayers to bail them out. We spend $100B a year on all of our veterans and now we should pony up $7B just for a handful of 1st responders??
Let NYC go after their pension plan to pay for this they have over 2000 cops drawing over $100K a year in retirement

[ARKillackey]

09:44 PM on 12/19/2010

You are being ridiculous! 9/11 was an attack against America, not NYC. Why should the good people of NYC have to pay higher rates related to the cost of a national attack? Is your reason related to NY not voting for McCain? We the People should help those who helped us. By following the Republican "pass-the-buck" way of doing things, like passing-the-bills to the next generation to pay for their wars, we will have a chilling-effect on those who might otherwise be 1st responders next time, and if Republicans have anything to do with it, there will be a next time.

[David Olson]

09:56 PM on 12/19/2010

fanned and you are correct !!!

[Akindra]

12:12 AM on 12/20/2010

yes it was an attack against American...but not by terrorists. And if you still really believe that then you are most naive. The federal government should pay for it...they did it. Bush and Cheney enacted something that was planned for years.

[mikelartist]

08:26 AM on 12/20/2010

You have a link to back up you wild claim right? Right? ..... or are you just spewing imaginary nonsense because you are "angry".

Reality isn't very kind to right wing views.

[lawg01177]

07:38 PM on 12/19/2010

Why are borrowing money from poor chinease poeple---and paying for1st repsonders who have workers comp---perosonal lawsuits---and health insurance? We cant afford it? they being greedy

[TaxTheChurch]

07:43 PM on 12/19/2010

I'm sorry you obviously dropped out of high school in the 5th grade.

[lawg01177]

09:22 PM on 12/19/2010

Lets get this straight---becuase the chinese people live is fear and despair--yet pay to thier government taxes who then purchase our U.S. Bonds-----and the money from the bonds goes to purchase twinkies/potato chips/lobster for so called poor american poeple.---oh yes--we pay interest on the twinkie money----(p.s. it not legal to drop out in 5th grade.)

[lawg01177]

09:48 AM on 12/20/2010

Dude--the law doesnt allow a 5th grader to drop out---get out of your cabin, take a shower in the stream----get your blowdart out---get some dinner---and get knowlegable---or better yet get to work so I dont have too! and support communism----

[David Olson]

09:58 PM on 12/19/2010

9/11 was an attack against America, not NYC. Why should the good people of NYC have to pay higher rates related to the cost of a national attack? Is your reason related to NY not voting for McCain? We the People should help those who helped us. By following the Republican "pass-the-­buck" way of doing things, like passing-th­e-bills to the next generation to pay for their wars, we will have a chilling-e­ffect on those who might otherwise be 1st responders next time, and if Republican­s have anything to do with it, there will be a next time. ~~~via
Arkillacke

[willowtalk]

07:30 PM on 12/19/2010

The 911 Truth Movement has made every attempt to inform Huffington Post and the general public that there has been over 1000 deaths since 911. There are over 50,000 persons on the watch list for medical concerns with Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, The First Responders have visited Congress for years begging for medical support. Senator John Mc Cann and Former Senator Elizabeth Dole have told them to drop dead, that they had other priorties. We were told from the beginning that no one would be safe that there can be over 100,000 deaths within the near future. My own father died from a 911 cancer in 1996 according to his cancer specialist. He never worked at Ground Zero but had a produce route in Downtown Brooklyn. My daughter close friend is gravely ill from a 911 lung disease who lived in Rockville Centre, Long Island approx 30 miles away from Ground Zero. The dust travelled for over 200 miles.

Termate crystals have been found in the lungs of the men and women who worked or lived near Ground Zero, according to the lab results. According to the engineers and architects for 911 Truth termnate had been used to bring down The North and South Towers along with Building 7 by controlled demolition. Please refer to www.911blogger.com.

[West end girl]

10:23 PM on 12/19/2010

If your dad died in 1996, it's still very sad, but 9/11 didn't occur until 2001. Now, I'm no genius, but I do know that 1996 is before 2001.

[IntelligentDiscussion]

07:21 PM on 12/19/2010

This notion that republicans are SOLEY to blame is false. Republicans only objection to the bill is how it's payed for, increasing taxes and specific businesses entities. Republicans said they were gladly support the bill if either it was taken from the stimulus fund, or other programs were cut. Democrats would have none of it. Democrats are just as equally to blame for the fail to pass just as much as republicans.

[centexlib]

09:35 PM on 12/19/2010

They had no problem voting tax cuts to billionaires of 70 billion a year with paying for it. This is just 7 billion, but they don't like closing a loophole in business taxes. I think these workers should be more important that the fat cats.

[KarlaElisa]

09:40 PM on 12/19/2010

it could have been paid for with those tax cuts that just went to the rich. your republicans are indefensible and it speaks volumes about you that you'd even TRY to let them off the hook.
SOB's

[IntelligentDiscussion]

02:25 PM on 12/20/2010

It could have been paid for with the Stimulus fund, your democrats are indefensible and it speaks volumes about you when you'd even TRY to let them off the hook.
SOB's