Help for the 9/11 heroes

It is done: At 10:25 Monday morning in the Rose Garden, President Donald Trump signed the bill, then handed the thick felt pen to tireless 9/11 advocate John Feal. Now the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, for the heroes and victims sickened by the destruction of the World Trade Center, has no artificial expiration date and no funding cap.

Just 44 minutes later, at 11:09, the Department of Justice’s VCF Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya announced that the financial support program will now accept all claims for an additional 70 years, until Oct. 1, 2090—instead of shuttering on Dec. 18, 2020.

She also said that every one of the 1,700 cases evaluated since February in which the award money was sharply reduced due to lack of funding will be fully restored, with notification going out to all by Sept. 11, with full payment to follow shortly thereafter.

The sums, determined based on projected years of income that sick and dying cops and firefighters and others will never earn, along with non-economic damages for those suffering cancers and similar ailments, will now resume without regard to budgetary concerns. What each person is owed by their country for their selfless sacrifice will be paid by their country.

Trump knows the heroism of his fellow New Yorkers. Just before signing, he said, “For your entire lives, you have gone far beyond your duty to us, and today we strive to fulfill our sacred duty to you. We love you. We honor you. And we thank you.”

Bravo, Mr. President.