Sen. Lee Statement on Effort to Authorize 9/11 Compensation Fund
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Friday morning as he continued to work for reauthorization of the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund.
“Last night Jon Stewart said he believed a billion dollars a year for ten years was a reasonable request for 9/11 first responders. I agree. That is why I filed an amendment last night funding the program at $10.18 billion over ten years, the exact same amount the Congressional Budget Office estimated the program will need,” Sen. Lee said.
The initial Victims Compensation Fund was available for roughly 2 years after the 9/11 attacks for persons who were present at the time or in the immediate aftermath of the three sites or for passengers and crew of any aircraft that crashed on 9/11. Just over 5,500 claimants received a total of just over $7 billion.
The fund was reopened in 2011 and extended eligibility for benefits to persons who suffered physical injuries/illnesses as a result of rescue, recovery or debris removal work at or near the 9/11 crash sites and to persons who lived, worked, or were near the World Trade Center on 9/11.
It was reauthorized in 2015. The total funding available to the Fund from 2011 through 2020 is $7.375 billion. At this point the fund has made roughly $5.2 billion in claims but has had to start trimming awards since February to ensure that valid claimants receive at least a portion of their benefits due.
The current bill as written would not authorize the Fund for another 5 years, like the previous bills. Instead it would authorize the program until 2092 with no cap on the funding.
“I do not want to stop the bill’s consideration and believe we can and should address the health needs of those first responders of the 9/11 attack,” Sen. Lee said. “I simply want to ensure that Congress has some continued oversight to ensure the Fund continues to follow the law as intended. We have seen too many times government programs divert from their intended use when Congress abdicates its oversight role.”
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Sanction
Exclusively Premieres
New Single + Video "Paralysis"
via Decibel Magazine
Watch HERE
Pre-Order New Album,
Broken in Refraction, due out July 26, 2019
Now at https://smarturl.it/Sanction631
Long Island, NY - July 18, 2019 - Long Island metal/hardcore band, Sanction is exclusively premiering their new single and music video for "Paralysis" via Decibel Magazine today. Check it out here. The single comes off of the band's forthcoming sophomore full-length album, Broken in Refraction, due out July 26, 2019 via Pure Noise Records, which is available to pre-order at https://smarturl.it/Sanction631
"This is one of the most important songs on the record, standing in the third track spot. The song takes on the physical form of sleep paralysis," the band shares.
Regarding the Sanction's upcoming record, members of KnockedLoose, Stick to Your Guns and Stray From The Path shared their thoughts:
"I love this band," shares Bryan Garris of Knocked Loose, "Their last record was one of my favorites of that year, I can't wait for this one. After touring with them and now being able to call them friends, I'm even more excited for their future."
Jesse Barnett of Stick To Your Guns continues, "Sanction is one of those bands that have let me see into their world not just through their sound but through the overall aesthetic of their band. The whole thing reeks of anxiety and depression and I don't think I know of a band who better drives home the point of how fucked it can be to navigate a world so hell-bent on destruction."
Tom Williams from Stray From The Path finishes with, "Being from Long Island, the word spread quick about Sanction, and they made an instant impression on me. Their EP Infringement of God's Plan was exactly what I needed to hear from metal core and after hearing the new singles, it sounds like this band has already elevated their game on Broken In Refraction."
Sanction will also be joining Stick To Your Guns, Counterparts, Terror, and Year of the Knife on the Pure Noise Tour kicking off today, 7/18 in Los Angeles, where it will make its way through cities like Denver, Chicago, Toronto, Philadelphia, New York City, Austin and more, before wrapping up on 8/24 in Santa Ana. For a full list of dates, please see below or here.
Broken in Refraction will be the band's second full-length album, released on July 26 via Pure Noise Records. It is now available for pre-order at https://smarturl.it/SanctionNY.
Follow Sanction:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanction631/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sanction631
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanction631/
Bandcamp: https://sanction631.bandcamp.com/
For hi-res press photo, please click here
For hi-res album artwork, please click here
Broken in Refraction Tracklisting:
1. ...An Empty Thought
2. The Final Fraction
3. Paralysis
4. Answers From A Syringe
5. Radial Lacerations
6. Mirror Syndrome
7. Conscious In A Coma
8. Infants In Plastic
9. Cordia
10. Shattering Man
11. Creation...
Upcoming Tour Dates:
07/18 - Los Angeles, CA at 1720
07/19 - Sacramento, CA at Holy Diver
07/20 - Salt Lake City, UT at In the Venue
07/21 - Denver, CO at Oriental Theater
07/23 - Lawrence, KS at The Bottleneck
07/24 - Iowa City, IA at Blue Moose
07/25 - Chicago, IL at Bottom Lounge
07/26 - Detroit, MI at Magic Stick
07/27 - Toronto, ON at Opera House
07/28 - Montreal, QC at Heavy MTL
07/30 - Worcester, MA at The Palladium
07/31 - Philadelphia, PA at TLA
08/01 - New York, NY at Brooklyn Bazaar
08/02 - Pittsburgh, PA at The Rex
08/03 - Cleveland, OH Phantasy
08/04 - Lexington, KY at Cosmic Charlie's
08/06 - Richmond, VA at Canal Club
08/07 - Greensboro, NC at Blind Tiger
08/08 - Columbia, SC at New Brookland Tavern
08/09 - Jacksonville, FL at 1904 Music Hall
08/10 - Lake Park, FL at Kelsey Theatre
08/11 - Tampa, FL at Orpheum
08/13 - Atlanta, GA at Masquerade
08/14 - New Orleans, LA at Republic
08/15 - Houston, TX at Warehouse Studio
08/16 - San Antonio, TX at Paper Tiger
08/17 - Dallas, TX at Trees
08/18 - Austin, TX at Come & Take It Live
08/20 - Tucson, AZ at Club XS
08/21 - Las Vegas, NV at Vinyl
08/23 - San Diego, CA at Soma
08/24 - Santa Ana, CA at
