With the recent deaths of two New York City firemen, the number of FDNY members who have died from WTC related health conditions has reached 200.

On July 17, Kevin Driscoll passed away from WTC related health conditions, according to People. He was based for 32 years in Harlem at Engine 91 prior to his retirement in 2002.

Driscoll was a Vietnam War veteran who during post-war service with FDNY was recognized for his extraordinary bravery five times. On the day of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the two WTC towers, he purportedly demonstrated remarkable courage and valor and “worked tirelessly in the rescue and recovery efforts that followed.”

As indicated by a July 18, 2019 Fox News.com article, the FDNY also learned of the death of Kevin Nolan the day before Driscoll’s death.

Nolan died of one of the cancers listed as WTC related health conditions. He was just 58 years old when he passed away this past week, but was forced to retire in 2007 from firefighting and accept a light-duty position with the FDNY press office, according to their Facebook page.

Nolan was a 20-year veteran of Engine 79 in the Bronx. He had allegedly suffered multiple health problems which, according to the Facebook post concerning him, his “physical conditioning and workout routine” could not overcome.

The deaths of these two firefighters came in the middle of a Senate battle to pass a bill that would fund the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund (VCF) for another 73 years. Firefighters and other first responders to the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks have are still developing illnesses related to the incident 18 years later. People reports that these illnesses are the result of multiple exposures to carcinogenic toxins like jet fuel, mercury, and asbestos present at ground zero.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the VCF bill—which has passed the Democratic House of Representatives—would add $10.2 billion in funds designated for new compensation payments over the next decade. As part of that $10.2 billion, $4 billion would be designated for 9/11 victims who have existing claims on hold pending this financing.

Key Republican Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky was noted to object to the bill’s extensive timeline due to economic viability. Paul was attributed to have raised objection to the bill because of a current $22 trillion government debt that continues to grow.

Funds in the current VCF have been significantly drained as more and more victims from the pool of first responders, New York City personnel, and volunteers come forward with diagnoses clearly related to their heroic involvement on the day of the terrorist attacks.

Recently, administrators of the fund have been put in a position of cutting benefit payments by as much as 70 percent, according to the report.