Making sure the 9/11 responders are adequately cared for was one of Jon Stewart's signature causes while hosting "The Daily Show."
In his post-"Daily Show" career, he's keeping up the fight.
On Wednesday, September 16, Stewart plans to walk the halls of Congress with 100 responders from the World Trade Center attacks. They plan is to appeal to congressional representatives to renew the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, according to The Huffington Post.
The law, which provides for dedicated and sophisticated healthcare coverage and health research for 9/11 responders, did not pass until 2010. People who were on the ground on 9/11 are disproportionately linked to high rates of cancer and lung problems. Stewart dedicated numerous segments to the bill on "The Daily Show" in the week leading up to Congress' vote on it.
He rallied against Republican lawmakers who objected to the bill because it was linked to a tax raise, and his attention is credited with turning the tide towards the bill's eventual passage.
Funding for parts of the act are set to expire in October. Weeks before the end of his show, Stewart discussed the subject of renewing the bill with New York Senator Kristin Gillibrand on his show.
"More first responders have died since 9/11 from being on the pile, from those diseases, than on 9/11 itself. Insane," Stewart said.
Stewart's response on his show to the 9/11 attacks marked a change where "The Daily Show" became more serious. Following the attacks, he famously dedicated a segment to questioning the purpose of comedy in times of tragedy, and mourned those who died in the attacks and the absence of the World Trade Center from the New York City skyline.
"The view from my apartment was the World Trade Center and now it’s gone," Stewart said. "They attacked it. This symbol of American ingenuity and strength and labor and imagination and commerce and it is gone."
Check out Stewart's full interview with Kristen Gillibrand, where they discuss the bill, below:
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