With the lawsuit settlement out of the way, the final battle for ill 9/11 responders and their advocates is passage of the federal $7.4 billion Zadroga bill in the lame-duck Senate session.
“The agreement reached today on the 9/11 settlement is a positive step for many ailing first responders — but the problem isn’t over,” wrote Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan), Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan) and Peter King (R-Long Island).
The bill, which passed the House, is stalled in the Senate under the threat of a filibuster by Republicans, who say it will drive up taxes.