9/11 First Responders Health Care Bill Passed By House & Senate

WASHINGTON -- After a filibuster and threats of obstruction by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), the Senate unanimously passed a bill on Wednesday that would provide health care for first responders to the 9/11 terrorist attack. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer reached a deal with Republican senators to support the bill earlier in the afternoon. (UPDATE: The House has also passed the legislation.)

Gillibrand and Schumer, the bill's chief sponsors, lobbied hard for the legislation to be introduced again in the lame-duck session, when they could still ensure House support. But on Tuesday, they hit a snag when Coburn vowed to block the bill, saying he wanted it to be funded through spending cuts.

Coburn also claimed the bill had been fast-tracked and skipped committee. But in fact the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing on the bill in June -- Coburn, a committee member, missed it.

Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) also said he would oppose the bill so the Senate could hold hearings on it in the future.

But just before leaving town for Christmas, senators reached a deal to ensure Republican support for the bill. It will now go for a vote by unanimous consent. The House remained in Washington to act on the bill.

The new deal reduces the cost of the bill by $6.2 billion from its previous Senate version and $7.5 billion from the version that passed the House, according to a statement from Coburn's office. It calls for closing the Victims Compensation Fund in 2016 instead of 2031, preventing claimants from pursuing civil lawsuits if rejected from the fund, and limiting infrastructure costs and attorney fees.

"Every American recognizes the heroism of the 9/11 first responders, but it is not compassionate to help one group while robbing future generations of opportunity," Coburn said in a statement after the deal was reached. "I'm pleased this agreement strikes a fair balance and improves the bill the majority attempted to rush through at the last minute."

If the bill passes, it will be another success for Democrats during a busy lame-duck session.

"This has been a long process, but we are now on the cusp of the victory these heroes deserve," Gillibrand and Schumer said in a joint statement.

Comments

[southingtonian]

11:19 PM on 12/23/2010

I would say they had been shamed into it, but I think it more likely that Jon Stewart and others made them see that it could cost them politically to persist. They haven't shown any ability to experience shame.

[MrWebster]

08:48 PM on 12/23/2010

Give credit to the ability of right wingers to handle cognitive dissonance who thought it right to justify numerous expensive wars in the name of 9-11 but now think it okay to stop medical aid to 9-11 responders because of the need for fiscal restraints.

You know, people think of cops and firemen as essentially conservatives. But I have to wonder what they think of the republicans when they pull this stuff.

[FDMNews]

12:08 PM on 12/23/2010

I suggest Dems go cutting the Republican tax bills and such in just this fashion - gross this Coburn guy, and who knows now, if other people will be so willing to rush in remembering that nickle and dimer Coburn - never see that guy cutting down defense spending or anywhere else there is corruption. Good you saved a few dimes Coburn. Dems, I suggest you stop buying into this stuff - the guy WASN"T EVENT AT WORK during the hearing, and you NEGOTIATE with him? That must be how people who are incompetent at work climb up the ladder. Anyway, forgive my negative feelings, I am trying to break a funk while sitting here thinking how it was the hospital and my insurance have gotten away with everything that has happened to me in the last two years, with no possible access option in the future.

Still, I have been fighting for and glad now the responders will have health insurance.

[weneedaLEADER]

01:55 PM on 12/23/2010

I hope you have a Merry Christmas and all the luck in the New Year!

[motoGpifupleez]

11:55 AM on 12/23/2010

This legislation would have passed 435-0 and 100-0 and in its original $10 Billion form if the
Republicans actually believed in all their rhetoric about how much they honor these people.

[blaster8]

11:06 AM on 12/23/2010

This is what we get when we stand up together with conviction to the Republicans. Too bad we're only learning this lesson now.
What a waste of an opportunity. I'm not unthankful for what we've been able to accomplish but we seriously could have done so much more.

[Whiplash]

05:05 PM on 12/23/2010

I agree.
If the Dems had had the courage beginning 2 years ago to stick to their guns like they did with this one, the economy would be back, rich people would not be getting tax breaks so the deficit could be addressed, we would have had better health care reform, etc, etc ......

Ahh, what's the use grumbling? At least it's a win for Jon Stewart and all right thinking people. Hopefully 2011 won't be as bad as it looks.

[jbonghtr]

11:05 AM on 12/23/2010

Coburn = The Grinch. Bachmann = Scrooge. Palin = The Nutcracker. May they all suffer terrible political defeats.

[Briar12]

01:22 PM on 12/24/2010

Not gonna lie, that made me laugh! Thanks :D

[sherri4real]

10:56 AM on 12/23/2010

Thank you Jon Stewart!

[Christopher Buczkowski]

11:09 AM on 12/23/2010

but more importantly, thank you to the first responders! :)

[MrWebster]

08:43 PM on 12/23/2010

And to Shep Smith on foxnews who called out goper senators by name. goper senators must have been surprised when their propaganda machine went after them.

[pepimartinez]

10:46 AM on 12/23/2010

Remember the people who voted "nay" when you vote:

Todd Akin [R, MO]
Rodney Alexander [R, LA]
Michele Bachmann [R, MN]
Spencer Bachus [R, AL]
Roscoe Bartlett [R, MD]
Gus Bilirakis [R, FL]
Rob Bishop [R, UT]
John Boozman [R, AR]
Kevin Brady [R, TX]
Eric Cantor [R, VA]
Bill Cassidy [R, LA]
Mike Coffman [R, CO]
Michael Conaway [R, TX]
Mario Diaz-Balart [R, FL]
Vernon Ehlers [R, MI]
John Fleming [R, LA]
Virginia Foxx [R, NC]
Trent Franks [R, AZ]
Robert Goodlatte [R, VA]
Tom Graves [R, GA]
Brett Guthrie [R, KY]
Ralph Hall [R, TX]
Jeb Hensarling [R, TX]
Walter Herger [R, CA]
Peter Hoekstra [R, MI]
Bob Inglis [R, SC]
Lynn Jenkins [R, KS]
Jim Jordan [R, OH]
Steve King [R, IA]
Jack Kingston [R, GA]
Steven LaTourette [R, OH]
Robert Latta [R, OH]
Jerry Lewis [R, CA]
Cynthia Lummis [R, WY]
Donald Manzullo [R, IL]
Tom McClintock [R, CA]
Thaddeus McCotter [R, MI]
John Mica [R, FL]
Jeff Miller [R, FL]
Sue Myrick [R, NC]
Pete Olson [R, TX]
Erik Paulsen [R, MN]
Bill Posey [R, FL]
Dennis Rehberg [R, MT]
Harold Rogers [R, KY]
Edward Royce [R, CA]
Steve Scalise [R, LA]
Jean Schmidt [R, OH]
Peter Sessions [R, TX]
William Shuster [R, PA]
Adrian Smith [R, NE]
Marlin Stutzman [R, IN]
Gene Taylor [D, MS]
Lee Terry [R, NE]
Todd Tiahrt [R, KS]
Frederick Upton [R, MI]
Greg Walden [R, OR]
Edward Whitfield [R, KY]
Addison Wilson [R, SC]
Rob Wittman [R, VA]

[2garen]

01:38 PM on 12/23/2010

Now we need to compare the above list to the list of those that voted for their own self interest and gave themselves a continuation of George's Tax cut.

[watchful123]

10:32 AM on 12/23/2010

I believe the 9/11 responders should get the help they need...but I have reservations about how this will be administered.

[papapj]

11:49 AM on 12/23/2010

Indeed...From Healthcare For Profit will no doubt emerge an insurance company bid off - behind closed doors, of course - for the contract to offer them said services....

[Pamski]

10:29 AM on 12/23/2010

Full disclosure here: I'm a word nerd and do the cryptoquote puzzles as well as crosswords. The quote revealed by solving yesterday's crypto seemed especially timely.

"True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else." Clarence Darrow

[DickClark]

10:25 AM on 12/23/2010

.......There is another....more accurate reason for the Republican opposition to the 9/11 First Responders legislation......one not mentioned or referred to very often....but there just the same.
......The basis of conservative thought is........SELFISHNESS.......
......This is seldom mentioned by liberal thinkers because it is thought to be ....impolite?.....not true?.......Pick your reason.........

Lower taxes.......MY taxes......
Spend unrestricted money on MY defense.....
Deregulate MY business.....So I can do whatever I want...whether legal, moral or unethical.....
Discriminate because MY religion....MY way of life.....is superior to any other.....
Untimately the republicans do no care about the 9/11 responders.... They voted only....ultimately....because they were afraid of poor public reaction ....which they are receiving.....
If only the public would remember this episode at election time......
If only the Democrats would remember this episode at election time....
........mmmm.....probably not.......

[txrotorhead]

11:28 AM on 12/23/2010

I couldn't agree with you more...

I'm sure you've seen the bumper stickers "Annoy a Democrat..." I propose another bumper sticker :

"Annoy a Republican... Think about something besides youself"

[txrotorhead]

11:32 AM on 12/23/2010

oops should have been "yourself"

[Sabrina1]

10:20 AM on 12/23/2010

Not caring for our American Heros is un-patriotic and un-American.
Coburn should not be in office, as he does not represent this country and it's people.

[arevolutionofone]

10:02 AM on 12/23/2010

I'd say, "Yea!" Why couldn't it have been done sooner and without all the Republican opposition. But, can this post be accurate? Reduced the bill's cost by 6.2 billion dollars??? From what I heard, maybe I'm wrong, it was only a 7 billion dollar bill in the first place. Can it really help anyone if this is true?

[Sabrina1]

09:54 AM on 12/23/2010

I realy think John Stewart should be recognized for bringing this to the forefront for resolution.
What does this say about our news media?

[Are You Joe King]

09:54 AM on 12/23/2010

The nit-picking over a little money here, and a little there really seems hollow and calloused when you watch the vast flows going into the Iraq/ Afgastation abyss. The Republicans held up 9/11 responders as the most hallowed of heroes when it was expedient to do so, but in reality, most of those heroes are blue collar types, which the Repubs loath. When it came to actually helping them out it was no different than any other middle class group, was it?