[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 116 (Thursday, July 11, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H5593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMPENSATING 9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS

  (Mr. HIGGINS of New York asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, 2001, as 
millions of Americans watched in horror, our country was attacked. 
Thousands of people courageously stepped up, left their homes and 
families, and answered the call to respond to a nation in need.
  Among them were dozens of western New Yorkers, including John Asklar 
of the Niagara Falls Fire Department who injured his leg in the rubble 
and continues to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder; Jennifer 
Czarnecki, who is reminded every day of her five assignments to Ground 
Zero with the New York State Police following a breast cancer diagnosis 
in 2015; and my friend Dave State, who bravely faced cancer last year 
as a result of his 9/11 service with the New York State National Guard.
  For them and others, the pain and consequences of this attack are as 
real today as they were 18 years ago. We must act urgently to make the 
9/11 Victim Compensation Fund permanent. These men, women, and families 
were there for our country in our time of need. Now, we must be there 
for them in their time of need.

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