The Senate is set for a key vote Wednesday on a bill to aid people who became sick after being exposed to toxins at the World Trade Center ruins following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The measure would provide up to $6.2 billion in medical and economic benefits for tens of thousands of responders around the country who are sick from the toxins they inhaled while rescuing survivors and recovering remains at the Trade Center site.
New York Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand said they were confident they had the 60 votes needed to prevail on the vote expected Wednesday after the Senate completes its work on an arms control treaty with Russia.
But they worry that Republicans who oppose the measure could try to stall a final vote as Congress nears the holidays and the end of its lame duck session. Some GOP lawmakers have complained that Democrats are rushing the bill through. They also have raised concerns about the bill's cost and how to pay for it.
What do you think, should the Federal Government spend up to $6.2 billion to help 9/11 responders or is this too much?
What about the survivors???? Why are they not included???
Posted by: Moi | December 23, 2010 at 12:03 AM