Comedian and activist Jon Stewart spoke on behalf of 9/11 first responders at Capitol Hill June 11 urging lawmakers to make the Victim Compensation Fund, which fights for the health of all 9/11 first responders, permanent.
Stewart has spent nearly a decade fighting for the “sick and dying” 9/11 men and women in uniform and used his “Daily Show” political voice to demand answers from a half-empty Congress.
“Behind me, a filled room of 9/11 first responders, and in front of me a nearly empty congress,” Stewart said. “Sick and dying they brought themselves down here to speak to no one. Shameful. It’s an embarrassment to the country and it is a stain on this institution. You should be ashamed of yourselves for those that aren’t here but you won’t be because accountability doesn’t appear to be something that occurs in this chamber.”
Following his speech which lasted almost 10 minutes, he received a standing ovation from members of the House Judiciary Committee and first responders who came to share their stories and fought through tears while making his remarks. He said on Sept. 11 2001, it took 443 first responders five seconds to respond to “an urgent need from the public” yet Congress continues to put off fighting for their health.
“Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity: time. It’s the one things they are running out of.”
In 2015 Stewart helped launch a new law, which would provide aid to first responders from the Sept. 11 attack. In February, Stewart demanded that Congress provide more funding for survivors to help pay for their medical treatments. The Fund is set to run out of money in December 2020. ABC News reported June 11 that the House Judiciary Committee is set to vote on a new bill on June 12 that would permanently authorize the program’s funding.
“I’m sorry if I sound angry and undiplomatic,” Stewart said before Congress “but I’m angry and you should be too.”
Watch the whole speech here:
Jon Stewart testifies for September 11 Victim Compensation Fund: "Accountability doesn’t appear to be something that occurs in this chamber…I'm sorry if I sound angry and undiplomatic, but I am angry, and you should be too." pic.twitter.com/njxJzSmzSJ
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 11, 2019
