Newsday
WASHINGTON — In a significant step forward for the renewal of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday agreed to back a permanent extension of its expired health program, according to Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.
But King said “there is still a long way to go” because the Zadroga reauthorization bill must pass out of four key committees. It also must secure agreement from Republican leaders in the House and Senate on a way to pay for it and a path to win congressional approval.
The legislation has more than 250 House co-sponsors and 66 Senate co-sponsors — more than needed to pass — but it lacks the backing of the majority of the Republicans in both the House and in the Senate, a hurdle it must overcome.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., Wednesday also asked the House-Senate conference committee working to resolve differences in their versions of the transportation reauthorization bill to attach the Zadroga renewal to that legislation for passage.
But House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is not expected to bring any Zadroga renewal bill up for a vote until it is approved by the two House committees that have jurisdiction over it.
Wednesday’s development, though not an official vote, represents positive movement by one those House panels: the Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., which oversees the act’s World Trade Health Center Program.
When Upton met with his Republican members to discuss whether to extend the Zadroga health program for another five or 10 years, King said, “They agreed it should be permanent.”
A committee press aide said, “We met with our members today to seek their input and guidance. The next step is for us to consult with our leadership about the best path forward about how to address this issue,” including how to pay for it.
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