After a last-minute compromise, the U.S. Senate passed legislation yesterday to provide up to $4.2 billion in new aid to survivors of the 9/11 terror attack on the World Trade Center and responders who became ill working in its ruins. The measure was a product of a compromise involving Democratic Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. The legislation provides money for monitoring and treating illnesses related to Ground Zero and reopens a victims’ compensation fund for another five years to cover wage and other economic losses of sickened workers and nearby residents. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand had sought $6.2 billion and keeping the compensation fund open for 10 years.
The bill also caps legal fees. Lawyers for those injured while responding to the attacks could receive up to 10 percent of their clients’ compensation, but no more. The legislation will head to President Barack Obama for his signature if the House of Representatives agrees with the compromise.
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