President Trump has signed into law the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act to permanently extend the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).
The bill signing at the White House Rose Garden marks the successful result of tireless efforts by the IAFF, the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) Local 94, Uniformed Fire Officers Association of (UFOA) Local 854 and many others to make sure those who become ill as a result of their work at Ground Zero get the benefits and care they deserve.
General President Harold Schaitberger, IAFF 1st District Vice President James Slevin, UFA President James Lemonda and UFOA President Gerard Fitzgerald attended the signing ceremony.
“On September 11, 2001, our nation swore to Never Forget, and today this nation finally lived up to that solemn vow,” says Schaitberger. “This important law permanently reauthorizes this essential, life-sustaining compensation fund for fire fighters, emergency medical responders and other responders who never quit until the completion of their mission after the devastating attacks of September 11.”
The VCF will now be fully funded to handle the record number of responders who are presently ill or who become ill from their service after the terrorist attacks.
IAFF members made their final hard push for permanent VCF reauthorization this summer, helping to win near unanimous support in Congress. The bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 97-2, with Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) the lone no votes. The bill previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 402-12.
