President Trump has signed a bill into law extending the 9/11 cancer compensation fund for victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

9/11 Cancer Victims Fund Extended Until 2092

Under the new law signed on July 29, the 9/11 cancer compensation fund will be extended until 2092. Additionally, over $10 billion has been allocated to keep the fund running for the next ten years. More billions will be allocated following that time period. The extension of the fund until 2092 will essentially cover the remaining survivors of the attacks until their deaths, providing aging victims with compensation for their injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

This bill comes after several years of declining funding for victims who developed cancer due to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. More than 60 first responders from the 2001 terrorist attacks were in the Rose Garden during the law signing, as well as a handful of Republican lawmakers. “We pledge to stand by the families of those affected today, and every day we will stand with you,” the president said in a statement. “Our nation owes each of you a profound debt that no words or deeds will ever repay. But we can and we will keep our nation’s promise to you.”

9/11 Cancer Compensation Fund Bill Was Years in the Making

For years, politicians and victims have gone back and forth regarding the 9/11 cancer compensation fund. For over a decade, first responders have been pushing Congress to permanently finance the fund. In recent years, the fund had been rapidly declining, leaving thousands of victims to wonder whether their medical expenses from 9/11 related cancers would be covered.

Dozens of these victims, many of them terminally ill, repeatedly traveled to Washington to lobby lawmakers for change. One detective with the NYPD appeared before Congress the day before his 69th round of chemo to advocate for change for other victims, even if it were too late for him. He died two weeks after his appearance before the policymakers.

Despite bipartisan support for the bill extending the 9/11 cancer compensation fund, the bill was only passed after extensive lobbying and testimony from victims, victim advocates, and activists. The advocates included comedian and former Daily Show host Jon Stewart, who brought additional public attention to the case on June 11 when he called out Congress for their “callous indifference” towards victims of the terrorist attacks. Despite mass support on both sides of the political aisle for the bill, it was not passed unanimously.

Republican senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah both voted against the measure, citing a need to eliminate unnecessary spending as well as offsetting the measure with budget cuts.

Thousands of Victims May Be Affected

According to experts, the number of victims who will have died from 9/11 related cancers and diseases may soon outnumber the victims who died during the attacks. More than 32,000 victims have developed respiratory or digestive diseases, and approximately 9,000 victims have been diagnosed with 9/11 related cancers. Approximately 1,300 victims have died of these conditions as of 2019.