Jon Stewart shames politicians for not showing up to 9/11 victims fund hearing
Late night comedian Jon Stewart is making headlines across the world for delivering a heartfelt speech which brought him to tears.
​Former The Daily Show host Jon Stewart shamed ​members of a House panel on Tuesday when only five politicians were seated in the rostrum to hear survivors of the September 11 terror attacks testify about the need to reauthorise the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
The former commedian’s flooring speech about the plight faced by the heroes of the tragic terrorist attack has made international headlines, as he accused politicians of ignoring the first responders.
“As I sit here today, I can’t help but think what an incredible metaphor this room is for the entire process that getting healthcare and benefits for 9/11 first responders has come to,” Stewart began.
“Behind me a filled room of 9/11 first responders, and in front of me a nearly empty Congress.
“Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak to no one,” he continued. “Shameful. It’s an embarrassment to the country and a stain on this institution, and you should be ashamed of yourselves, for those who aren’t here.
“But you won’t be because accountability doesn’t appear to be something that occurs in this chamber.”
Stewart said the “disrespect” shown to first responders suffering from respiratory ailments and other illnesses was “utterly unacceptable”.
In front of Stewart was ​House ​Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler​ of New York, along with ​Democratic representatives Steve Cohen​ of Tennessee​, Mary Gay Scanlon​ of Pennsylvania​, Jamie Raskin ​of Maryland ​and the top Republican in the ​Judiciary subcommittee, Mike Johnson ​of Louisiana.
​Democratic ​representative Max Rose ​of Staten Island was seated near the witnesses testifying.
Democrat ​representative Carolyn Maloney, who testified at the hearing alongside Republican ​representative Peter King, sat on the other side of the room.
Representative Lee Zeldin, another New York Republican, sat through most of the hearing but missed Stewart’s opening digs.
The subcommittee has 14 members.
Stewart’s heartfelt speech came on the heels of testimony from Luis Alvarez, a retired ​NYPD ​detective who had responded to the attacks on September 11, 2001.
“Less than 24 hours from now, I will be starting my 69th round of chemotherapy,” said Mr Alvarez who has liver cancer. “Yeah, you heard that correct.
“I should not be here with you, but you made me come. You made me come because I will not stand by and watch as my friends with cancer from 9/11, like me, are valued less than anyone else because of when they get sick, they die.”
Mr Alvarez received a standing ovation after concluding his opening remarks.
The House bill in question permanently reauthorises the Victim Compensation Fund through October 1, 2090, which should account for the lifespan of all the children and adults sickened by the terror attacks.
The VCF is already experiencing a funding shortfall and announced in February that survivors would receive cuts of 50 per cent for pending claims and 70 per cent for future claims.
The full House Judiciary Committee will vote on the bill on Wednesday.
A full House vote isn’t expected until the legislation is scored by the Congressional Budget Office, Mr Nadler told The New York Post.
Once through the House, the bill’s Senate companion — sponsored by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and a bipartisan group of 38 senators — will have to pass.
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell didn’t respond to a request for comment on whether he would support the bill coming to the floor.
The White House also didn’t respond to comment when asked if President Donald Trump would sign it.
The original James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was signed into law in 2011 but limited the filing time for claims to five years.
That was expanded by another five years in October 2016, which is why the fund needs to be reauthorised now.
Additionally a spike in claims has led to a funding shortfall.
“We don’t want to be here, Lu doesn’t want to be here, none of these people don’t want to be here,” Stewart told the handful of politicians. “And they’re not here for themselves. They are here to continue fighting for what’s right.
“Lu’s going to go back for his 69th chemo … the great Ray Pfeifer would come down here, his body riddled with cancer and pain, where he couldn’t walk. And the disrespect shown to him and the other lobbyists on this bill is utterly unacceptable,” Stewart added.
Mr Pfeifer was a 9/11 firefighter who died in 2017 of a 9/11​-​related cancer.
After the hearing, Stewart — a vocal liberal — told The Post he would meet with Mr Trump if it meant a permanent authorisation.
“Of course I’d be willing to,” Stewart said. “The question is, why do we have to? Why do we have to drag Lu Alvarez down here after 69 chemotherapies to make a case that is obvious? There’s no reason for it.”
This article originally appeared on The New York Post and was reproduced with permission
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