9/11 First Responder Bill Passes Congress, a 'Christmas Miracle'

With supporters calling it a "Christmas miracle," a last-ditch effort to provide health benefits for 9/11 first responders and survivors paid off as Congress sent the measure to President Obama for signature yesterday.

Although the $4.2 billion aid package is smaller than originally planned, it is still a major victory. The bill will provide health benefits to Ground Zero first responders and survivors, many of whom were exposed to toxic smoke and dust after the twin towers collapsed.

The fund will ensure that those sickened by their relief efforts will get monitoring through the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Treatment Program and reopens a compensation fund for an additional five years.

Health issues related to the WTC clean-up include a persistent cough, asthma, reactive airway disease and a host of related respiratory diseases.

The bill almost didn't make it. The main hold-up was the GOP, who resisted passing what some considered to be an entitlement plan. But prominent members of the GOP, including former mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, criticized members of their party for denying care to the same people whose efforts they so publicly lauded after the attacks. Last week, Jon Stewart told the story of sick World Trade Center survivors on "The Daily Show" and yesterday, Shep Smith of Fox News called out every single GOP member that wouldn't come on his show to talk about the bill.

In a fight to the finish, firefighters and others in support of the bill came to Washington this week in order to lobby GOP senators. And their efforts paid off.

In a joint statement, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand said it was the "Christmas miracle we've been looking for."

Thanks to the over 1,600 Change.org members who signed 9/11 Environmental Action's petition telling Congress to support the bill.

Photo credit: 9/11 Environmental Action