VESTAL, NY (WSKG) – New York's federally elected officials are reacting to a bill that ensures the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund never runs out of money. It'a moved from the Senate to President Donald Trump's desk. Trump is expected to sign it.
In a statement, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called on the president to do so immediately. "The health and safety of these brave men and women has been hanging in the balance for too long, and it's time they are finally given the peace of mind we owe them." Cuomo said.
The vote was 97-2 after Democratic senators agreed to allow votes on amendments sponsored by two Republican senators who had been blocking the widely popular bill.
Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said in a statement that the bill is long overdue. Gillibrand is also one of the Democrats running for president in 2020.
“The Senate promised that we would ‘never forget,’ and today we finally lived up to that promise. We will never forget our 9/11 heroes and we will never stop helping them when they are in need – and now, once and for all, they can finally exhale and go home to be with their families,” said Gillibrand.
New York Representative Anthony Brindisi applauded the move. He said, “Washington got this right.”
The bill would extend the fund through 2092, essentially making it permanent.