Obama signed the bill during his Hawaiian vacation, with no signing ceremony held. In a statement issued later, the president said he was "honored" to sign the bill, which pays for health care for responders believed to have been sickened by pollution at the ruins of the World Trade Center in New York.
Read More »IAFF's Harold Schaitberger Weighs in on Passage of the 9/11 Health Care Bill and Chicago LODD's
IAFF General President Harold Shaitberger weighs in on the Holidays, the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, and the Recent LODD's in Chicago.
Read More »Coverage of the Chicago LODD's and 9/11 Health Bill
Today is very bitter... Chicago Firefighters are joined by firefighters everywhere as we mourn the death of Firefighters Corey Ankum and Edward Stringer. These deaths occur on the anniversary of two other very well known LODD fires. Today is also very sweet... Many firefighters are rejoicing with the passing of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act
Read More »Update: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act Passes Senate
There is speculation on why it passed through the Senate after having been shot down just days ago. Some people think it might have something to do with The Daily Show's Jon Stewart's hilarious political jabs at the Republicans who filibustered the bill. It really makes you wonder what the catalyst was. After all, the bill was rewritten removing over $2 billion in cost. Republicans have caught a bad rap on the whole deal...maybe they realized how damaging the bad press could get. Then again, maybe the nay sayers just did the right thing...we may never know.
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