Joint Statement by Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Chuck Schumer on the Failure of the Joint House-Senate Conference Committee to Restore 9/11 Aid

Joint Statement by Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Chuck Schumer on the Failure of the Joint House-Senate Conference Committee to Restore 9/11 Aid For New York

"We are extremely disappointed that the Joint House-Senate Labor, HHS Conference Committee is poised to reject a provision that passed the Senate which would restore $125 million in 9-11 aid to those in need of worker's compensation and medical and mental health needs because the House Republican Leadership refuses to permit this funding to be added to the bill. This money would have gone to our firefighters, police officers, workers, volunteers, and others who came to Ground Zero and who need our help. Many House Members and Senators visited Ground Zero shortly after September 11th and stood with our heroes. But there were thousands of men and women who worked at Ground Zero for several days, weeks and months beyond September 11th looking for their brothers and sisters, friends and families, and those they did not even know. Many of them still suffer medical and mental health problems and worker's compensation claims are not being approved or addressed. The Amendment we included in this bill would have addressed these problems. While we are extremely disappointed that this provision is in jeopardy, this fight is not over. We will not abandon these men and women who did not abandon us in our time of need. The President of the United States, and this Congress, promised $20 billion to New York and rejecting this provision is a rejection of that promise. It is only right that we restore this funding to New York and we will do whatever is in our power to right this wrong."

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=248857&&