Make it unanimous

Alarge majority of the House of Representatives will today pass a permanent extension of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund to provide financial support to the heroes and victims of the World Trade Center. $10,180,000,000, the official cost estimate, is a lot of money, but it’s a tiny price for the suffering of people who have died or whose health has been severely damaged by the toxic plume of gray ash that covered downtown in those terrible days.

The House, the collective body of the American people, must send the bill to the Senate with overwhelming numbers, which is what it seems they are poised to do.

The bill has sponsors from every state except Idaho and North Dakota (and all four

senators from those two states are sponsors). Among Democrats, every single member, up to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is on board. Among Republicans, backers range from Alaska’s Don Young, the longest-serving member, to Pennsylvanian Fred Keller, who was just sworn in June 3. GOP Whip Steve Scalise is a supporter and we trust that Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy will vote yes.

There are 22,500 people who have already received payment from the Department of Justice-run fund. But the money is running out and there are another 19,000 claims pending and estimated 18,000 future cases.

From first-responders to passersby caught in the maelstrom, everyone sickened as a result of the attack on America deserves fair treatment.