[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 180 (Friday, December 11, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H9275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REAUTHORIZE THE JAMES ZADROGA ACT
(Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, the James Zadroga Act, the 9/11 Victims
Health and Compensation Act, is up for renewal, surprise to everyone.
It passed 5 years ago with a 5-year limit to be reenacted in this
Congress.
What has happened? Absolutely nothing. We keep waiting. We were told
that the 9/11 victims compensation bill, the Zadroga Act, would be on
the transportation bill. It was mysteriously withdrawn at the last
moment. We don't know when this bill will pass.
What has happened to this place? What has happened to the spirit of
bipartisanship to get this bill passed?
How can you, on the Republican side, go so low as to use this bill as
grease to pass other legislation? That is what is being done right now.
The 9/11 Victims Act is being used as grease to pass other bills. It
is outrageous. It is disrespectful to the men and women who gave all to
serve this country, people who have stage 4 cancer today and are dying.
It gives them no more solace to know that their country is not standing
by them.
We continue to say ``never forget,'' yet we continue to forget in
this Christmastime, in this holiday season, those who are suffering.
Give them peace of heart and mind, and pass this bill.
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