A US congressional committee on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation to extend the fund compensating first responders to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Centre for the next 70 years, a move that would avoid steep benefit reductions over a lack of money.

The House Judiciary Committee acted one day after television personality and comedian Jon Stewart castigated lawmakers at a hearing for their slow response to helping New York City firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel who rushed to the scene of the attacks that left two of Manhattan`s most well-known skyscrapers in rubble.

The fund also helps construction workers and victims of the attack.

"Your indifference costs these men and women their most valuable commodity - time," Stewart said to a hearing room packed with lawmakers and first-responders, including those now suffering from cancer, respiratory problems and other serious health issues as a result of inhaling contaminated air nearly 18 years ago.

Before Wednesday`s vote, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, whose constituents live in New York City, said that despite federal officials` statements that the air was safe in the aftermath of the attack, "more than 95,000 responders and survivors are sick."&nbsp;

The bill, which next goes to the full House for debate, would extend the victims` compensation fund to 2090, putting it on the same terms as a health program for World Trade Centre victims. It also would reverse any benefit cuts due to insufficient funds.&nbsp;

Also on Wednesday, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York pleaded for fast passage in that chamber.

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was asked by a reporter whether he would advance the legislation.

"I hadn`t looked at that lately. I`ll have to. We`ve always dealt with that in a compassionate way and I assume we will again," McConnell said. 
In the past, some lawmakers have complained about the cost of helping 9-11 victims at a time of severe U.S. budget deficits.&nbsp;

"It`s shameful. There’s no other word for it. Shameful, that our brave first responders have had to suffer the indignity of delay after delay after delay," Schumer said in a speech to the Senate.

A US congressional committee on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation to extend the fund compensating first responders to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Centre for the next 70 years, a move that would avoid steep benefit reductions over a lack of money.

A US congressional committee on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation to extend the fund compensating first responders to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Centre for the next 70 years, a move that would avoid steep benefit reductions over a lack of money. The House Judiciary Committee acted one day after television personality and comedian Jon Stewart castigated lawmakers at a hearing for their slow response to helping New York City firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel who rushed to the scene of the attacks that left two of Manhattan`s most well-known skyscrapers in rubble. The fund also helps construction workers and victims of the attack. "Your indifference costs these men and women their most valuable commodity - time," Stewart said to a hearing room packed with lawmakers and first-responders, including those now suffering from cancer, respiratory problems and other serious health issues as a result of inhaling contaminated air nearly 18 years ago. Before Wednesday`s vote, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, whose constituents live in New York City, said that despite federal officials` statements that the air was safe in the aftermath of the attack, "more than 95,000 responders and survivors are sick." The bill, which next goes to the full House for debate, would extend the victims` compensation fund to 2090, putting it on the same terms as a health program for World Trade Centre victims. It also would reverse any benefit cuts due to insufficient funds. Also on Wednesday, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York pleaded for fast passage in that chamber. On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was asked by a reporter whether he would advance the legislation. "I hadn`t looked at that lately. I`ll have to. We`ve always dealt with that in a compassionate way and I assume we will again," McConnell said. In the past, some lawmakers have complained about the cost of helping 9-11 victims at a time of severe U.S. budget deficits. "It`s shameful. There’s no other word for it. Shameful, that our brave first responders have had to suffer the indignity of delay after delay after delay," Schumer said in a speech to the Senate.

US House panel approves permanent September 11 victims' compensation

A British parliamentary committee on Tuesday summoned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to answer questions on the fake news as authorities step up efforts to determine whether data has been improperly used to influence elections, reports said.

The European Parliament also invited Zuckerberg to speak following revelations that a firm working for Donald Trump&#39;s US presidential campaign harvested data on 50 million users.&nbsp;

The parliament and the European Commission, the 28-nation EU executive, have already called for an urgent probe into the scandal.

Data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica harvested private information from more than 50 million Facebook users in developing techniques to support President Donald Trump&#39;s 2016 election campaign, the New York Times and London&#39;s Observer reported on Saturday.

The newspapers, which cited former Cambridge Analytica employees, associates and documents, said the data breach was one of the largest in the history of Facebook Inc.

Facebook on Friday said it was suspending Cambridge Analytica after finding data privacy policies had been violated.

The European Parliament also invited Zuckerberg to speak following revelations that a firm working for Donald Trump's US presidential campaign harvested data on 50 million users.

A British parliamentary committee on Tuesday summoned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to answer questions on the fake news as authorities step up efforts to determine whether data has been improperly used to influence elections, reports said. The European Parliament also invited Zuckerberg to speak following revelations that a firm working for Donald Trump's US presidential campaign harvested data on 50 million users. The parliament and the European Commission, the 28-nation EU executive, have already called for an urgent probe into the scandal. Data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica harvested private information from more than 50 million Facebook users in developing techniques to support President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign, the New York Times and London's Observer reported on Saturday. The newspapers, which cited former Cambridge Analytica employees, associates and documents, said the data breach was one of the largest in the history of Facebook Inc. Facebook on Friday said it was suspending Cambridge Analytica after finding data privacy policies had been violated.

Mark Zuckerberg Summoned by House Panel in UK; stock slides

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US House panel approves permanent September 11 victims' compensation

Mark Zuckerberg Summoned by House Panel in UK; stock slides