FealGood Foundation & 9/11 Responders are Appalled

CONTACT: John Feal 631 724 3320, 516 901 7427 feal13@aol.com



FealGood Foundation & 9/11 Responders are Appalled & Denounce the Underfunded 9/11 Bill from the House Judiciary Chairman Congressman Bob Goodlatte from Virginia



New York - On a day when Republicans voted for a new Speaker of the House, and promised they are turning over a new leaf, the House Judiciary Congressman Bob Goodlatte recklessly and without regard for the actual needs of 9/11 responders introduced his own version of the James Zadroga Health & Compensation Act. This bizarre act of unilateral action was ironically done the same day the James Zadroga Health & Compensation Act crossed the 60-vote threshold to make the bill filibuster proof.  Even more bizarre, Chairman Goodlatte didn’t consult with the bill House bill sponsors even though that bill has 237 bipartisan cosponsors in the House.

Not only is this a slap in the face to everyone affected by 9/11/01 and its aftermath. It is proof that Chairman did not think this through, or he is truly misinformed and does not appreciate the magnitude and devastation that 9/11/01 and its aftermath is still causing. The Chairman has refused to speak to advocates for a permanent program, and never followed protocol in holding a hearing like Chairman Upton in the Energy & Commerce Committee to actually find out how much money would be needed to compensate the responders who continue to suffer and perish in huge numbers. Introducing his own 5 year bill does not even come close to providing what is needed to help the 12,000 people eligible for compensation.

If Chairman Goodlattee actually cared about the tens of thousands who suffer and 470 people in his state that suffer as well, he would have made a mature & responsible choice and held a hearing and held discussions with 9/11 advocates.  Instead, he has taken the lazy route and just offered the same thing that we got in 2010.   We all know now that those amounts have fallen short and that the responders still need help.

The 9/11 Community and its advocates strongly oppose this ridiculous and insulting piece of legislation set forth by Chairman Goodlatte, and we will not settle nor be insulted anymore by House members who cannot wrap their arms around 14 years of anguish and pain that still haunts thousands of heroes every waking day.

On Tuesday, November 17th 9/11 Responders again will be in DC meeting with members of Congress to extend a permanent bill and make sure Chairman Goodlattes bill is exposed for its politics, its weaknesses and its lack of substance to guarantee proper funding for yesterday's heroes.

Please call Congressman Bob Goodlatte Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee  202 225 5431 or Judiciary Committee 202 225 3951 and tell him his version of our Bill is an insult, under funded and a half ass attempt to appease the 9/11 community.