Just out of Senator Gillibrand's Office:
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer today announced they have reached a bipartisan agreement to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act today in the U.S. Senate.
GILLIBRAND, SCHUMER ANNOUNCE BIPARTISAN DEAL ON 9/11 HEALTH
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer today announced they have reached a bipartisan agreement to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act today in the U.S. Senate.
Senators Gillibrand and Schumer issued the following statement:
"The Christmas Miracle we’ve been looking for has arrived. Over the last 24 hours, our Republican colleagues have negotiated in good-faith to forge a workable final package that will protect the health of the men and women who selflessly answered our nation’s call in her hour of greatest need. We are pleased to announce that we crafted an agreement that will allow this legislation to pass the Senate, and the House, this afternoon. We thank our Republican friends for coming together to fulfill America’s moral obligation to the Heroes of 9/11.
"This has been a long process, but we are now on the cusp of the victory these heroes deserve. We would not be here without the strong leadership of Majority Leader Reid, Congresswoman Maloney, Congressman Nadler, Congressman King, Congressman Weiner, Congressman Crowley, Congressman McMahon, the entire New York Congressional delegation, and most of all, the many brave first responders and community survivors."
This is very good news. Please call your Senators and tell them to vote to support this bill.
Never forget the fallen. Never forget the ones who carried them out.
Update: More details about the compromise from the New York Daily News:
The scaled-down $4.3 billion agreement to aid ill 9/11 responders is set to be approved by the Senate as soon as Wednesday afternoon.
The initial Zadroga bill called for a 10-year, $7.4 billion treatment and compensation package. To win GOP support, the proposal was trimmed down to 5 years at $4.3 billion.
The last-minute deal also opens the 9/11 Victims' Compensation Fund, but caps lawyers fees at 10%.
Update 2: Looks like the GOP sticking point once again was, "protect the corporations." The bill before would have closed a corporate tax loophole. Now, Fox News is reporting:
The original bill would have required multinational companies incorporated in tax havens to pay taxes on income earned in the U.S. Bill supporters said that would close a tax loophole, but Republicans have branded it a corporate tax increase.
Instead, the new bill would be paid for with a fee on some foreign firms that get U.S. government procurement contracts. The bill also calls for extending fees on certain firms that rely on H-1B and L-1 visas. It would also extend fees on travelers who don't present visa travel documents at U.S. airports.
Thanks Ken in MN.
Schumer said he believed the new provisions to pay for the bill would be "noncontroversial" with other lawmakers.
Update 3: And it's done! The bill has passed the Senate! (thanks JP!)
MSNBC, via Daily Beast:
In what may well be the last bill of the 111th Congress, the Seante passed the 9/11 health bill Wednesday after a last-minute breakthrough. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), nicknamed "Dr. No" for his frequent blocking of legislation, had been holding up passage of the bill due to his objections over the cost of the measure and the way it had been passed through Congress. Negotiations led by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) broke through the impasse. The House is also expected to pass the bill on Wednesday.
Update 4: Passed the House as well. It's heading for the President's desk.
Thanks to Senator Gillibrand, Jon Stewart, and omg, Sheppard Smith.
Update 5: Mayor Michael Bloomberg says on Twitter:
Big thanks to @SenGillibrand, Sen Schumer and Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow for work to pass the Zadroga Act
More here.