Obama Comes Out In Support Of 9/11 Health Bill

In a breakthrough for 9/11 first responders, President Barack Obama ended his silence on the Zadroga Bill on Wednesday and backed the uphill drive to get it through Congress.

“The President looks forward to signing the 9/11 health bill into law, once it passes both houses of Congress, to help the first responders whose health and livelihood were devastated by the events of Sept. 11,” a White House statement said.

Elated first responders and their families said it was the first show of support from Obama since the presidential campaign and boosted chances for bringing the bill to another vote in the House next month. A previous effort failed last month.

Obama’s statement came a day after he was slammed in a letter by John Feal, head of a first responder advocacy group, as reported in the Daily News. John Feal has expressed gratitude for the President’s support but awaits further action by the President to push both houses of congress to pass the bill.