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Title: Sick 9/11 workers rally in rainy D.C. for more help
Source:
NY daily News
URL Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_ ... s_rally_in_rainy_dc_for_m.html
Published: Feb 27, 2008
Author: STEPHANIE GASKELL
Post Date: 2008-02-27 17:58:52 by Ferret Mike
Keywords: None
Views: 22
WASHINGTON - Chanting "$25 million isn't enough!" dozens of sick 9/11 first responders stood in the rain on Capitol Hill Tuesday and urged President Bush to restore funding to help pay their medical bills. Joseph Zadroga, whose son James died of lung disease after working 100 hours at the site for the NYPD, said the government needs to help those who helped the city get back on its feet after the towers fell. "They dug this country out of a hole and now it's time for this country to dig them out of their holes," he said as he held back tears. Bush has budgeted just $25 million for 9/11 health care programs in 2009 - compared with $108 million for this year. The Daily News, in a series of Pulitzer Prize-winning editorials, has also fought for more funding for the city's sick heroes. "We lost 3,000 lives on 9/11, but thousands more have lost their health," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens). She is sponsoring a bill named after James Zadroga that would mandate health care funding for ailing 9/11 workers. "It is a scandal that we do not have health care for these men and women who risked so much to help others." John Feal, a Ground Zero volunteer who lost part of his foot when an 8-ton steel beam fell on it, organized the rally, which had been expected to draw hundreds of people. He said he wasn't discouraged by the small turnout. "Numbers don't compare to our spirit," he said. "Our spirit is strong." Sick workers were also meeting privately with several members of Congress to urge them to pass the Zadroga bill.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich greets first responder Kevin O'Connor at Tuesday's Capitol Hill rally protesting cuts in support for 9/11-related health care.
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