Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has once again agreed to support 9/11 victims. Senator Murkowski voted for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, sponsored its 2015 reauthorization, and now sponsors the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Act (S. 546) (“Never Forget the Heroes Act“). Senator Murkowski joins Republican Senators Senator Blunt joins Republican Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Jerry Moran (R-KS).
The Never Forget the Heroes Act, if passed, would:
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- Permanently fund the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (9/11 VCF)
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- Extend the deadline beyond 2020 to 2090
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- Roll back the recently announced 50 to 70% compensation cuts
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- Pay claimants in full if they received awards that were cut due to the funding crisis
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- Return to paying claimants in full going forward
Senator Murkowski’s steadfast support to 9/11 victims is notable in light of the relatively small number of victims in Alaska which is home to less than thirty confirmed 9/11 victims. Senators from states which much larger populations of confirmed 9/11 victims have not yet agreed to sponsor the Never Forget the Heroes Act. Below is a list of Senators from states with a large constituency of confirmed 9/11 victims who have not yet agreed to sponsor the Never Forget the Heroes Act. (The number listed next to each name is approximate total number of 9/11 victims.)
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- Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL); 4,000
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- Patrick Toomey (R-PA); 1,500 [Note- Ron Wyden (D-PA) is a sponsor]
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- Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC); 1,000
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- Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA); 800
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- Dianne Feinstein (D-CA); 700 [Note- Kamala Harris (D-CA) is a sponsor]
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- Tim Scott (R-SC) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC); 600
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- Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA); 500
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- Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI); 100
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- Mike Braun (R-IN) and Todd Young (R-IN); 111
Click here to find out if your Member of Congress support the Never Forget the Heroes Act. If they do, thank them. If they don’t, ask for their support.
