About 5 years ago, the Senate almost derailed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act which provides health care and compensation those for responders on and in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

One would think it would be a national priority to at least provide this minimal amount of aid to those who sacrificed their lives and/or health to rescue people from the collapsing and burning buildings recover bodies from the rubble, and helped clean-up so Wall Street and other American businesses could re-open.

But it doesn’t seem to be. We’ve heard plenty of political speech in this summer but not much about doing the right thing for 9/11 responders.

The website http://www.renew911health.org/news-articles-on-effort-to-renew-the-911-health-and-compensation-act/ provides an easy way to find what has been in the news on this issue.

Bills (James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act : HR 1726 and S928) were introduced in the House and Senate in April. In May the bills were referred to the appropriate committees and subcommittees. Bill have gathered co-sponsors but no floor action (debates or votes) in either branch.

If someone on these committees or in the party leadership has a problem with the legislation, why not tell us the problem or introduce a bill that would solve the problem. Why not a vote so we know who has a problem with the legislation or with the idea of giving medical care or compensation to those who sacrificed for America.

I think it a good idea to make this permanent but maybe there is some political benefit to being able to co-sponsor legislation every few years. But sometimes politicians just do the right thing.

Let’s hope they do the right thing for 9/11 responders.