WASHINGTON (WPIX)—
The Senate has voted to block a bill intended to aide first responders who fell ill after working in the World Trade Center on September 11th.Republicans senators voted Thursday to block the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, acting on their promise of not considering any other bills until the Senate acts on funding the government and extending tax cuts.
Supporters of the bill fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation that will provide as much as $7.4 billion in health care and compensation to 9/11 responders and survivors.
Backers of the legislation see this lame-duck session of Congress as possibly its last chance. The bill has passed the House.
New York and New Jersey lawmakers have fought for years for the measure. Critics question its cost and whether the government could ensure the money would go only to people sickened by trade center dust.
