Member-only story
The Political Party of 9/11 Deniers
When Republicans say “Never Forget” they really mean “those victims and fallen heroes can eat shit”
In 2006, two Democrats initially co-sponsored a bill for the first time to help provide health monitoring and aid to the first responders, firemen, cops, volunteers, the survivors, victims, and their families. Unfortunately, the House and Senate were both controlled by the Republicans, and they refused to even hear the bill. The bill wouldn’t be revisited until Democrats regained control of the Senate chamber in 2010. The piece of legislation would be called the “James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act” named after one of our country’s fallen heroes who was the first NYPD officer whose life was cut short due to exposure from the toxic chemicals five years prior — he was only 34 years old.
Since the terrorist attack, approximately 10,000 people have cancer; thousands more have died from asbestos and toxic chemicals; and thousands of families were affected that day. Initially the bill failed to get through the House with a 255–159 vote. 155 of the 159 congress members who voted “no” were Republican. It was amended, and ultimately passed with a 268–160 vote. 157 of the 160 congress members who voted “no” were Republicans. After it passed through the House, it moved to the Senate with a 57–42 vote. 41 out of 42 senators who voted “no” were Republican.
