House passes 9/11 Health & Compensation Act

The House this afternoon passed final congressional approval of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act, which provides medical care for persons exposed to harmful toxins from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. First responders, cleanup workers and those living within the terrorist attack areas are eligible for care.


The $7.4 billion bill passed easily 268 to 160. Seventeen Republicans supported the measure, while three Democrats voted against the bill.

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danarhea said:

As a fiscal Conservative, I am generally against Federal spending. But there also a few lines that I will cross, and support government spending. This is one of them. There are a lot of cops, firemen, and even ordinary citizens, who put their own lives on the line for this nation, and their community, when 911 hit. We don't throw them in the garbage after we are done with them. We reward their service to America, and treat any health problems they incur while doing it. Why? Because it is the right thing to do.

Yes, in this case, let's spend the money, and I will gladly pay my taxes for it.

Article is here.

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Member Concerns



Some Members may be concerned about several issues:



H.R. 847 creates a new entitlement program.
H.R. 847 is paid for with a tax increase on companies located in the United States that are employing American workers.
H.R. 847 is not means tested. An amendment to preclude millionaires from accessing the new health entitlement created by Title I was defeated during the markup in Energy and Commerce Committee.
NIOSH does not have expertise in administering a health care payment program. The current program is a b-grant program, and under H.R. 847, NIOSH will negotiate contracts and approve treatment protocols.
H.R. 847 increases hospital reimbursement rates to 140 percent of Medicare reimbursement rates on average for New York City hospitals while ObamaCare cuts $150 billion in payments to hospitals around the country.
H.R. 847 does not reward hospitals and providers for improving health care. They will be reimbursed based on each service they perform, which will encourage overutilization and increase health care spending.
Currently, several programs receive federal funding for medical monitoring and treatment programs. Those programs include: Fire Department of New York WTC Medical Monitoring Program, New York/New Jersey WTC Consortium, WTC Health Registry, WTC Federal Responder Screening Program, Project COPE, and POPPA (Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance) program.
Limited oversight fails to ensure taxpayer funds are spent properly and effectively. Government health care programs, such as Medicare, have a significant amount of fraud.
H.R. 847 gives too much discretion in the unreviewable authority of the Special Master.
H.R. 847 permits claimants to seek compensation through the VCF even if they have settled their lawsuits against the $1 billion taxpayer-funded World Trade Center Captive Insurance Company.
H.R. 847 includes protections for trial lawyers, including the ability to receive taxpayer-funded compensation for work not directly related to recovery from the VCF. In addition, attorneys who have been compensation under another settlement will have access to settlement funds under the reopened VCF.
12. H.R. 847 extends the geographic scope of the original September 11 Fund and gives the Special Master discretion to extend it even farther.
H.R. 847 caps the VCF at $8.4 billion, which is an invitation and a guarantee to spend $8.4 billion.

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MrVicchio said:

Now for the otherside of the story, since your blog source just cheerleads.



H.R. 847: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 - Legislative Digest - GOP.gov


You're a fiscal conservative unless it's an emotional issue... then you don't care, just spend spend spend!

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Deuce said:

Let's pretend the white house had an (R) and the congressional majority was (R), and some (D)'s voted against this bill.

I bet you'd be posting exactly the opposite. How dare those liberals vote against helping out our brave men and women who sacrificed so much on that day!

I'm with the OP. This is money worth spending. And the "tax increase" is closing loopholes that let corporations set up a P.O. box on some tax shelter island, thereby avoiding paying out ANY income taxes in the US.

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danarhea said:

As a fiscal Conservative, I am generally against Federal spending. But there also a few lines that I will cross, and support government spending. This is one of them. There are a lot of cops, firemen, and even ordinary citizens, who put their own lives on the line for this nation, and their community, when 911 hit. We don't throw them in the garbage after we are done with them. We reward their service to America, and treat any health problems they incur while doing it. Why? Because it is the right thing to do.

Yes, in this case, let's spend the money, and I will gladly pay my taxes for it.

Article is here.

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Deuce said:

Let's pretend the white house had an (R) and the congressional majority was (R), and some (D)'s voted against this bill.

I bet you'd be posting exactly the opposite. How dare those liberals vote against helping out our brave men and women who sacrificed so much on that day!

I'm with the OP. This is money worth spending. And the "tax increase" is closing loopholes that let corporations set up a P.O. box on some tax shelter island, thereby avoiding paying out ANY income taxes in the US.

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Councilman said:

I could not agree more with your sentiments.

We far too often forget our heroes that go to a different kind of war here at home every day and put their lives on the line for total strangers, you and I.

I wonder how many people remember that 343 Firefighters, 72 Police Officer, Heroes Died on 9 11.

I salute all of the heroes in uniform and those in hard hats and others who just joined in the effort because that is what true Americans and they didn't bitch that it's someone Else's job to do.

To Paraphrase Sir Winston Churchill: "If this Nation lasts a thousand years it will be said of these Heroes, this was their finest hour."

:2usflag: Salute

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danarhea said:

Damn right, and this is for those who sacrificed for this country. Sucks to be one of those who would dare to play politics with the lives of our soldiers.

Thanx for posting.

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chevydriver1123 said:

My question is why did it take this long?

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Manc Skipper said:

There was no reason for masks, the Bush EPA was denying any problem with Manhattan air quality.

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