The government recently passed a bill to permanently reauthorize the 9/11 cancer fund, ending reduced awards and securing payment for all qualified victims.

On July 29, President Donald Trump signed into law the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act.

This law permanently reauthorizes the Victim Compensation Fund through Oct. 1, 2090 to ensure that all victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks are able to recover full compensation.

How Much Money Is Available to Victims of 9/11?

There is not a limit on the amount of money allocated for the payment of funds, although only $10.2 billion is authorized for the next 10 years. The Department of Justice’s news release says that the entire act approves “such funds as may be necessary to pay all approved claims.”

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, sometimes abbreviated to VCF, originally ran from 2001 to 2004. However, first responders and other victims continued to fall ill due to their exposure to toxic chemicals such as asbestos and so the act was reactivated in 2011.

The attacks released toxic fumes and chemicals such as asbestos, lead, jet fuel, and more. Many of these toxins have a long latency period, meaning that individuals are only now getting sick, years after the attacks. Experts predict that the number of deaths following the 9/11 terrorist attacks will eclipse the nearly 3,000 people who died during the attacks themselves.

What Does the Reauthorization Mean for Victims?

The permanent reauthorization of the fund ensures that all affected individuals will be able to recover compensation for their illnesses and that grieving families will be compensated for their losses.

“This is a momentous day for the VCF and the 9/11 community, and we are extremely grateful for this show of confidence from Congress and the President,” said Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya who runs the 9/11 cancer fund.

“The entire VCF team is ready and eager to move forward into the next phase of this successful program with renewed energy and a reinvigorated clarity of purpose, and, as always, we remain dedicated to serving the needs of the 9/11 community.”

Activism and Perseverance Helped Pass the Bill

Earlier this year, those running the 9/11 cancer fund announced that the $7.375 billion in funding would be insufficient to pay out pending claims and all claims filed after Dec. 18, 2020. As a result, the fund was forced to reduce their awards by as much as 70 percent in order to stay within their budget.

Due to the news of dwindling payments, 9/11 victim advocates doubled down their efforts and put increased pressure on the government to reauthorize the fund permanently. Advocates such as Jon Stewart criticized Congress for their “callous indifference” in the face of suffering first responders who risked their health and lives to help in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.

Luckily, their hard work paid off. The new act allows the Victim Compensation Fund to issue full payments to any claimants who were forced to receive a lower payment since the announcement.

“By this year’s anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, we hope to have begun the payment process on unreduced awards for all previously-reduced claims,” said Special Master Bhattacharyya in the release.

“We look forward to completing that process as quickly as possible so that we can continue the important work of providing needed compensation to those who are suffering.”