A long-embattled bill to provide $7.4 billion in medical treatment and lost wages for sickened Ground Zero workers may finally get a chance at becoming law this week.
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said today that majority leader Harry Reid plans to set in motion tomorrow a process that could clear the way for passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
“We still need one more Republican to come on board,” said Gillibrand spokesman Glen Caplin. “We’re optimistic.”
It could be Zadroga’s last chance at passage, because a new Republican majority taking over the House next year is unlikely to approve it.
Ground Zero demolition worker and advocate John Feal plans to bring a busload of 9/11 responders to Washington on Tuesday – Pearl Harbor Day — to remind senators that the US passed a similar bill in 1942 to aid shipyard workers injured or sickened in that attack.
“This is our last chance to show the US Senate that they have to man up on their patriotism,” Feal said. “They have a moral obligation to the heroes of 9/11 to pass this bill.”
Currently 59 senators have pledged support, but 60 votes are needed to approve a “cloture” process that would limit debate to 30 hours, to avoid a possible filibuster. Then the bill could be put up for a vote, and it could pass with a simple majority of 51 senators in favor.
Sources close to New York’s delegation say they are seeking the support of a “moderate” Republican such as Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), who is considered sympathetic to the 9/11 responders.
Republican Mark Kirk of Illinois, who is serving the remaining years in the Senate seat left by President Obama, is set to vote for the bill. Obama has said he would sign it.
The bill would provide health care and economic compensation for 10 years to 9/11 workers and the families of those who died of illnesses blamed on toxic Ground Zero dust, as well as some sickened Lower Manhattan residents.