2010 Passage of Original James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act

In 2009, what would become the final version of the proposed law, HR. 847, S. 1334, was sponsored in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Peter King (R-NY) with 112 other members of the House. In the Senate, it was led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) along with 9 other sponsors.

The original statue provided for medical treatment and financial compensation for the thousands of responders and survivors who are sick from exposure to toxins at Ground Zero, as well as those sick from exposures at the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania sites. As passed in 2010, it provided $4.152 billion dollars in total Federal funds, for a total cost of $4.3 billion, when New York City’s shares of expenses were included. The Federal funds were provided by new fees and taxes created in the legislation so that both programs paid for.

There were two key parts of the law: 1) The creation of the World Trade Center Health Program and 2) the reopening of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.

The World Trade Center Health Program was funded in 2010 with $1.506 billion dollars for five years, with an additional 10% or 150 million dollars provided by the City of New York, until September 30, 2015, the end of federal Fiscal Year 2015. It was allowed by its statute to continue to operate with any funds that were not spent from prior years, for all or part of the federal Fiscal Year 2016 but would have to shut down for good on September 30, 2016.

The September 11th Victim Compensation Program was reopened after being shut down in 2003 and was funded at the time by $ 2.775 billion dollars to pay compensation claims from injured and ill 9/11 responders, survivors and the families of those responders and survivors who died from 9/11 injuries until October 3rd, 2016 when it would cease taking new claims.

Here are documents and information about the 2010 Passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

CONGRESSIONAL VOTES ON THE PASSAGE OF THE ZADROGA ACT

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was originally passed by Congress in 2010.

In the House of Representatives there were three floor votes at that time. The first attempt at House Passage (Roll #491) on July 29, 2010, was an attempt to achieve passage using an expedited procedure called “Suspension of the Rules” that requires an affirmative two-thirds vote for passage and is used by the House to bring up for a vote non-controversial legislation.

While the vote was 255-159 in favor, the bill failed to get the required two-thirds affirmative vote of those present and was not passed.

The second attempt at House Passage was successful, using regular House procedures, the same bill that failed to pass in July was brought before the House on September 29, 2010 and passed and sent to the Senate with an overwhelming majority 268-160 (Roll #550).

In the U.S. Senate there was only one vote on the legislation that year and that was on December 9, 2010. The vote was on procedural motion to break a filibuster against the bill and to invoke “cloture” to allow the bill to be brought up for debate. The vote was 57-42. (Roll #269) and it failed to obtain the required 60 votes to break the filibuster and allow the legislation to be brought up for debate on the Senate Floor.

The final vote in the House of Representatives was on December 22, 2010, and it was final passage of the legislation, agreeing to changes in the legislation by the U.S. Senate. It was in fact the last bill to pass the Congress that year, passing the House 206-60 (Roll #664), which sent it to President Barack Obama for his signature.

Congressional Voting Record on Original Passage of the Zadroga Act 2010

You can look up how those in Congress in 2010 voted on the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act here.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF ORIGINAL JAMES ZADROGA ACT

Library of Congress Legislative History of HR 847 in 111th Congress

DOCUMENTS ABOUT ORIGINAL 2010 LAW

Government Accountability Office Reports Prior to Reauthorization
Read reports from the investigative arm of the United States Congress.

Congressional Research Service Memos Prior to Reauthorization
Examine memos that provide policy and legal analysis.

Congressional Hearings Prior to Reauthorization
Download full testimony and hearing proceedings related to the 9/11 health and compensation bill.

Congressional Sponsors Background Materials Prior to Reauthorization
Download Sponsors Background Materials from 2010 Effort to Pass Original Law

MAJOR LEGISLATIVE EVENTS IN EFFORT TO PASS THE ORIGINAL LAW: 2009 TO 2011

H.R. 847 introduced in House of Representatives
February 9, 2009

Judicial Committee Mark Up
July 29, 2009