Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today released the following statement after the 9-11 Victim Compensation Fund permanent funding bill reached 60 cosponsors:
“A bipartisan, filibuster-proof majority of the Senate has now cosponsored our bill to make the 9-11 Victim Compensation Fund permanent. We have the votes for this bill to pass as soon as it comes to the floor. I urge Senator McConnell to not stand in the way and commit to a standalone, up-or-down vote on this legislation as soon as it passes the House. Our 9-11 first responders are sick, they are dying, and they have already had to spend too much of their precious time traveling to Washington and fighting to convince members of Congress that making the 9-11 Victim Compensation Fund permanent is the right thing to do. We owe this to our heroes, and we should not force them to wait until the last minute.”