Jul 27, 2019
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The senator blocked a bill that would extend funding for the attack’s first responders and victims—forcing them, Stewart said, to “drag them
Jon Stewart photo dump 239/?
Source: JonStewartDaily on Instagram
Jon Stewart Goes Off on Congress Over 9/11 First Responders Fund
On the 22nd anniversary of September 11th, it's important to remember not only the 3000 Americans who died on that day at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and on flight United 93 but also those who've suffered since - the Iraqis and Afghans who dealt with a needless war, the soldiers who were sent to war by rich old men, and of course, the first responders battling disease, medical bills, and politicians (read: Republicans) who unashamedly turn their backs on those who would save theirs without a second thought. Luckily, we have people like Jon Stewart and John Feal (and others too numerous to name) who ensure "Never Forget" is not just a slogan.
Jon Stewart Stands With FealGood Foundation to Add Cancer to be Covered Under Zadroga
Former Daily Show host and 9/11 Memorial board member Jon Stewart was recognized on Friday among three other honorees at the annual Badge of Courage Gala hosted by the Nassau County Firefighters Museum, according to Newsday. The event awarded Stewart and John Feal, founder and president of the FealGood Foundation, with the Firefighters Humanitarian Award for their efforts to secure health benefits for 9/11 responders.
The event also recognized Ray Pfeifer, a former East Meadow, NY fire captain and retired FDNY firefighter, who received the museum’s Francis X. Pendl award, and Stew Leonard Jr., who received the Firefighters Leadership Award for his charity work on children’s water safety.
Stewart, Pfeifer and Feal lobbied Congress for the James Zadroga Act of 2010 and its reauthorization that ultimately passed in 2015. The law will provide affected first responders with 75 years of health coverage and five years of compensation.
“These are people who are there because they form a foundational aspect of civil society,” Stewart said. “We’re setting an example for the rest of us when the world is falling apart, and the idea that we can’t take care of them when they need something, felt so fundamentally wrong in so many ways it was mind boggling.”
The men have continued their advocacy even after the benefits were secured. Stewart and Feal raised awareness of health resources available to 9/11 responders through the World Trade Center Health Program. And Feal and Pfeifer donated artifacts to the 9/11 Memorial Museum related to recovery operations – Feal donated his red bomber jacket and Pfeifer donated his key to the city. They were recognized at a special tribute that marked the 14th anniversary of the formal end of recovery operations at the World Trade Center.
Feal expressed that the gala was “recognition for the foundation’s work with Stewart and Pfeifer and the 190,000 signatures they presented Congress in favor of health benefits.”
Jon Stewart Stands With FealGood Foundation to Add Cancer to be Covered Under Zadroga
Comedian Jon Stewart, who lobbied Congress to extend health benefits for 9/11 responders, will receive a humanitarian award along with three other honorees Friday at the Nassau County Firefighters Museum in Garden City.
The museum is recognizing Stewart and Fealgood Foundation founder John Feal, who was a worker at Ground Zero, with humanitarian awards for advocating for health benefits included in the James Zadroga Act on behalf of 9/11 responders.
Former FDNY firefighter and ex-East Meadow Fire Capt. Ray Pfeifer, a 9/11 firefighter with Stage 4 cancer, will receive the museum’s Francis X. Pendl award.
Entrepreneur Stew Leonard Jr. will receive the Firefighters Leadership Award for supporting children’s water safety and raising $3 million in the past 25 years for swim lessons and lifeguard training through his charity.
Stewart, Pfeifer and Feal lobbied last year for the passage of a law covering 75 years of first responder health benefits and five years of compensation for 9/11 related illnesses.
“These are people who are there because they form a foundational aspect of civil society,” Stewart said in an interview with Newsday. “We’re setting an example for the rest of us when the world is falling apart, and the idea that we can’t take care of them when they need something, felt so fundamentally wrong in so many ways it was mind boggling.”
Stewart first raised the issue as host of The Daily Show in 2010, when the Zadroga health benefits bill was being filibustered in Congress. He returned to Congress last year to argue for the benefits to be extended for the lifetime of 9/11 first responders.
“Selfishly, I think if you continue to demonstrate to people that you can’t take care of your first responders you may not have them there when you need them in the same way you want them to be,” Stewart said.
Feal, whose leg was crushed by 8000 pounds of steel on 9/11, said he began working with Stewart and firefighters once he experienced having benefits denied. He has raised more than $4 million for charities.
He said Friday night’s ceremony would be recognition for the foundation’s work with Stewart and Pfeifer and the 190,000 signatures they presented Congress in favor of health benefits.
“This gives us validity to say we were here,” Feal said. “It was selfish of me to ask these men to leave their house when they were sick or dying, but it was the only way to get these bills passed.”
Advocates are still seeking to have compensation funded through Congress past 2021 for illnesses before September 2005 and additional cancers and illnesses that are not included or have not been diagnosed.
Stewart now spends his time with his family and as an advocate and supporter of firefighter and veterans’ affairs.
“This is an ongoing battle for the men and women with these illnesses and more are coming,” he said. “We don’t know what the effects of freebasing this toxic mix of chemicals on the pile is going to be 20 years from now.”