A bill to guarantee health care services to the multitude of people affected by exposure to toxins at Ground Zero, in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, failed of passage in the House of Representatives yesterday.
The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, sponsored in the House by Reps. Carol Maloney, D-NY, Jerrold Nadler, D-NY and Peter King, R-NY, garnered 255 votes in favor and 159 against.
But because the vote was taken with the House rules suspended, supporters needed a two-thirds majority to pass the measure and fell short.
The bill would establish a $11.6 billion fund over 10 years, with roughly a third of that going to cover the health care costs of the victims, and the other two-thirds to compensate them for their losses. Over 20,000 people, according to government figures, have suffered since the event, either from exposure to the toxic dust of pulverized buildings and combusted chemicals, or injuries, or post-traumatic stress, or all three.
....(snip)....
Republicans who opposed the bill said it benefitted New York area hospitals at the expense of taxpayers.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-TX, said the rest of the nation should not be paying to help New Yorkers cope with the aftermath of 9/11. ........(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/39875/20100730/ground-zero-health-congress.htm
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