The city’s medical examiner later concluded that his death had nothing to do with his exposure to debris on Ground Zero, a point of contention for first responders and advocates. Stewart spoke at a rally in Washington DC Wednesday, pushing for Congress to renew a bill to help them.
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Stewart’s short speech took a lighter tone as the comedian warned the 9/11 first responders present about Congress. “Today on the Hill you will be exposed to possibly toxic levels of bullshit and arrogance”, he said to laughter.
Now, as the landmark legislation is set to expire at the end of the year, Stewart is relying on his national profile again. “I’m embarrassed that you… have to come down here and convince people to do what’s right for the illnesses and difficulties you suffered because of your heroism and because of your selflessness”. “Just days before, many of them wrapped the American flag around themselves and thanked these firefighters for their service”, Alles, also deputy chief of the Fire Department of New York, said.
“Hopefully we’ll get some momentum and get things done and we won’t have to drag first responders with stage four cancer down to Washington every five years to beg for medicine because it’s embarrassing”, Stewart said.
Senate Republicans withdrew their opposition shortly after his show featured a panel of 9/11 first responders. “I am embarrassed for New York”.
Another program that compensates victims and first responders financially, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, is expected to expire in October of 2016.
Jon Stewart will join the Bravest and other firefighters from around the country for a day of lobbying to prevent the Zadroga Act from expiring. Failure to renew the bill could affect more than “33,000 responders and survivors who have at least one injury or illness caused by the attacks”, according to the Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act.
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“You are strong men and women, but these are conditions you may never have experienced before, so buckle your seat belts”.
