Political Quotes

“Mr. President, tomorrow my friend John Feal and fellow survivors who were first responders on September 11 will visit with Leader McConnell to press for the passage of legislation to fix the shortfall of the Victim Compensation Fund. This is the fund that awards compensation to the families of 9/11 first responders who died from 9/ 11-related illnesses, often cancers and fatal respiratory illnesses. It makes me sick to my stomach that every time we have this debate, these suffering first responders, many in wheelchairs, are forced to travel to Washington to shame politicians into supporting their healthcare. I am sick of all of these delays; I am tired of temporary reauthorizations; and I have had enough of watching our first responders endure the indignity of waiting for a last-minute, must-pass bill to hide their issue in so Members will not vote against it. It shouldn't be this way, and it shouldn't be this hard to pass aid for our 9/11 responders and everyone who worked on the pile in the weeks and months thereafter. Who has been standing in the way? At the top of the list, unfortunately, is my colleague the Republican leader. Leader McConnell has to do the right thing here. He is meeting with these brave responders, and that is a good thing, but it is not enough.…”