(Newswire.net — September 17, 2015) — Giving that many first responders and survivors will be forced to re-mortgage, and may even lose their homes if the Zadroga Act is not renewd, Jon Stewart joined first responders on the Capitol Hill on Wednesday, to remind officials to renew the act, the Russia Today reported.
“Today on the Hill, you will be exposed to possibly toxic levels of bullsh*t and arrogance. You’re strong men and women. But these are conditions you may never have faced before. Buckle your seatbelts, and let’s get this done,” Stewart said at a rally on the steps of the Capitol.
The former ‘Daily Show’ host told the gathered crowd that he is sorry that his plea was even necessary, arguing that lawmakers should renew the first responders’ benefits automatically.
“I want to apologize to all the men and women, the first responders, that you had to come down here today. I’m embarrassed. I’m embarrassed for all the country. I’m embarrassed for New York,” he told those who worked selflessly at Ground Zero in the hours, days, weeks and months after airplanes struck the World Trade Center 14 years ago.
“I’m embarrassed that you, after serving so selflessly with such heroism, have to come down here and convince people to do what’s right for the illnesses and difficulties that you suffered because of your heroism and because of your selflessness,” he added.
The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act passed in 2010 is set to expire in October. The Act ensures health benefits such as health monitoring and treatments for first responders and survivors who face potential life-threatening health effects of 9/11 attack.
Zadroga was the first NYPD officer whose death was attributed to exposure to his contact with toxic chemicals at the attack site.
“If you have stage-four cancer and you get a letter of notification saying the medicine that you rely on may be ending in a year, that to me is an urgent care situation,” the ex-comedian told about 100 first responders and 9/11 survivors, adding that first responders deserve benefits “purely for their acts of valor in a wartime situation.”