Today we saw a true Christmas miracle take place in the US Senate.
Two weeks ago, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act was defeated on a procedural vote, the casualty of political gamesmanship so common in Washington. Because we didn't have the votes to overcome a Republican filibuster, this crucial piece of legislation to provide critical health care for our brave 9/11 heroes could not proceed to an up or down vote.
But that vote two weeks ago was a turning point. It made people sit up and say, wait a minute, this isn't right, we owe these brave men and women. Who are we as Americans if we don't take care of our heroes? Well, it's been nine long years since these brave men and women answered the call on 9/11 and I'm so proud that today the US Senate has now answered theirs.
Democrats and Republicans came together to finally pass this bill and fulfill the moral obligation we have to our 9/11 heroes and provide them with the healthcare they need.
We would not be here without the strong leadership of Senator Schumer, Congresswoman Maloney, Congressman Nadler, Congressman King, Congressman Weiner, Congressman Crowley, Congressman McMahon, the entire New York Congressional delegation. And I'm so grateful to Leader Reid, Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer whose leadership has allowed us to expedite passage of this important legislation today. Thanks also to Secretary Clinton who worked tirelessly on this bill while in the Senate.
And then there are all the first responders who've been working with me and my team since I came to the Senate last year. They've walked the halls of Congress, they've made calls, written letters, appeared on TV, whatever it took to help their brothers and sisters who are sick and dying get the health care they need. We couldn't have done this without their tireless advocacy.
Many of us felt deeply that this bill was the right thing to do, but there were some who insisted on playing politics with the lives of 9/11 heroes. Thankfully, Americans from across the country made their voices heard. Jon Stewart, Shepard Smith, and many others gave the issue the extra attention it needed and put pressure on Republicans in Washington to do the right thing.
People from all over tweeted and Facebooked, blogged and called their senators in support of this bill and to express outrage at the Senate's inability to get this done. I've been truly moved by the overwhelming reaction to this bill, and I can't thank you all enough for helping make this Christmas miracle a reality for our 9/11 heroes.
Follow Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SenGillibrand
Lisa Whitfield Johnson
Ohio Operating Engineers
Local 18
Cleveland, Ohio
The Greatest Generation (who fought two world wars, and elected four presidents) didn't go around calling one another "heroes," and they had few that took that kind of adulation. But here we are now in 2010 totally terrorized by a bunch of mad bombers. These religious death cultists, who have us terrorized (and cost us 200 million dollars a day to defend against) have no army, navy, or air force, and travel on motorbikes, BUT... we are surrounded by "heroes."
Now, let's work on making gay marriage legal, like it is for the rest of us.
What you ,Senator Chuck Schumer and those that worked tirelessly to get this bill passed, have given the best Christmas gift, for these people who put their health on the line, to help others and clean up the mess at Ground Zero.
I am so glad you ran again for Senate and won on your own accordance because you really care for the average person who can not fight for themselves.
I wish more of the senate and house of representatives had the same agenda that both my two senators that represent New York do. What wonderful country we would have!
Keep up the good work and maybe you can help rebuild the Catskills where the major hotels used to be in the Borcht Belt. The area where I grew up needs to be revived!
Call me a Scrooge if you must, but why did the Federal government need to weigh in on this matter at all? The first responders were primarily employees of the Port Authority, the City of New York, and the State of New York. Apparently, these agencies provide insufficient insurance coverage to those in their employ. If anything, it was they who should have borne the responsibility of "making things right", NOT the US Congress.
great depression they moved to Ipswich Mass. My dad found work in Norwich
Connecticut & here I am 80yrs old the last of the Mohegans. Thank you for
a excellent post. You brought back some memories of days gone by.
Fanned & faved.
Mike
Please provide links where NY blamed everyone else.