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Maryland Congressman Explains Why He Voted Against 9/11 First Responder Bill

July 16th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Maryland's only Republican Congressman is offering a justification for voting against the funding bill that would pay for the health costs of 9/11 first responders. Andy Harris was one of only 12 lawmakers to vote against the bill on Friday.

In a statement, Harris said he was worried about the cost because the bill also included money not only to address first responders, but also for compensation payments to 9/11 survivors for the next 70 years.

Harris said Democrats were "lazy" and "fiscally irresponsible" for including survivor compensation in the bill designed to help first responders.

Harris said Democrats suspended the House's own rules of outlining the way to pay for the measure.

Harris said he hopes the bill is corrected in the Senate.

The fund to help the first responders was created in the days after September 2001, terror attacks.

It operated for three years, and then was revived in 2011, and reauthorized in 2015.

The bill passed the House after weeks of lobbying from first responders and comedian John Stewart

3 Responses to “Maryland Congressman Explains Why He Voted Against 9/11 First Responder Bill”

  1. July 16, 2019 at 1:00 pm, mac said:

    John Stewart may be a comedian but the real joke here is Congressman Harris.

    Reply

    • July 16, 2019 at 5:01 pm, kevin said:

      > Thank you. Harris is another flag waving patriot racist who really hates to spend money on the people who really do defend freedom. Remember him when you vote for the GOP he is what you get.

      Reply

  2. July 17, 2019 at 7:22 pm, Ken said:

    Do I understand that this gentleman is against the 9/11 survivors compensation fund? As I understand it, this fund was create to prevent survivors of 9/11 from suing the airlines whose planes were used in the attack.

    How would splitting this part of the 9/11 first responders bill make any kind of sense? Is it that he doesn’t believe the families of people killed in 9/11 deserve compensation? If so, is he willing to allow them to file lawsuits against the airlines as well as a host of other entities in an attempt to get court settlements? Does he understand that if these suit were to go forward, it would likely bankrupt three airlines as well as possibly take down one or more insurance companies?

    More to the point, how long will it take a paralyzed congress to author, introduce, debate and vote on an additional bill?

    Can anyone help but wonder why 87% of Americans are disgusted with Congress?

    Reply

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