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John Stewart Had Some Things To Say To Congress About 9/11 First Responders

John Stewart did something good and necessary on Capitol Hill Tuesday and for a change it’s something we should all be able to agree on.

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Former Daily Show Host Jon Stewart Testifies On Need To Reauthorize The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
 WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 11: FealGood Foundation co-founder John Feal hugs former Daily Show Host Jon Stewart during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on reauthorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund on Capitol Hill on June 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. The fund provides financial assistance to responders, victims and their families who require medical care related to health issues they suffered in the aftermath of 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images

As a general rule we don’t discuss politics in any meaningful way here but we don’t think this is really political or at least we hope it’s not. It certainly shouldn’t be and if we thought it was we wouldn’t even mention it.

John Stewart went to Capitol Hill Tuesday to advocate for extended health care for 9/11 First Responders who have serious medical problems as a result of their heroism and ended up thoroughly shaming Congress for not acting and indeed, for barely showing up: there were many empty seats in that chamber.

Stewart said that the first response time on 9/11 - this is incredible - was five seconds. And it’s taken 18 years and we still haven’t cared for the most extraordinary among us when they so dearly need our help. And they do. Many of them are sick or dying and don’t have time to waste.

People across the political spectrum have lauded his comments. If you haven’t seen them please take a few minutes and watch. He’s absolutely right and it’s infuriating that this hasn’t long since been taken care of.

We saw the best of our people on 9/11 and we have repaid them with indifference. It’s time to take care of this and to do it properly. As Stewart said to our leaders: Do. Your. Job.

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