Senate approves bill to extend 9/11 victims’ fund
The US Senate has given final legislative approval to a bill ensuring that a victims’ compensation fund related to the September 11 attacks never runs out of money.
The 97-2 vote sends the bill to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
The Senate has overwhelmingly PASSED the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Act. pic.twitter.com/jYPbkAx3s2
— Senate Republicans (@SenateGOP) July 23, 2019
The vote came after Democratic senators agreed to allow votes on amendments sponsored by two Republican senators who had been blocking the widely popular bill.
The Senate easily defeated the amendments proposed by Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Democratic Sen Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said 9/11 first responders and their families have had “enough of political games”.
The bill will extend through 2092 a fund created after the 2001 terrorist attacks, essentially making it permanent.