A new bipartisan legislative agreement would allow spouses and children of 9/11 victims, including those diagnosed with September 11 cancer, access to more compensation.

The bipartisan agreement was announced by Sen. Chuck Schumer earlier this month. Before this deal, spouses and children of 9/11 victims could not access money from the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund if they had previously received compensation from another fund set up for victims of 9/11. Now, they will be eligible for compensation from the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which has about $1 billion available in total, regardless of whether or not they have previously received compensation from another 9/11 fund.

The compensation from the U.S. State Sponsored Terrorism Fund does not consist of taxpayer dollars, but is funded instead through penalties the U.S. has imposed on international states that are determined to be state sponsors of terror. The fund has previously been used to compensate the U.S. Embassy hostages in Iran in 1979, as well as victims of the 1983 bombing at the Beirut Marine barracks. The fund would be split in half, dividing up the compensation for September 11 victims and non–September 11 victims.

Additionally, the legislation extends the reach of the fund by an extra ten years, which would then be set to expire in 2030. The fund has been regularly extended since it was first initiated.

“New Yorkers—more than anyone—know the personal and financial costs that the 9/11 attacks continue to deliver every single day,” said Schumer in a statement. “For [spouses] and kids, just compensation will never replace the loved one they lost, but it will make a difference in living a life to the fullest, paying for college, raising a family, all the things these courageous Americans would have done alongside their beloved family member.”

The legislation is set to be voted on this week in both chambers. Dozens of kinds of cancer are included in the list of cancers eligible for compensation.

Filing a September 11 Cancer Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with September 11 cancer or one of the other 9/11-related health conditions after exposure to toxins in the aftermath of the attacks, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by cancer or other serious conditions, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

The prospect of filing a lawsuit can be daunting, especially while dealing with serious medical conditions or grief over the death of a loved one, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.