Indianapolis News and HeadlinesPolitics

Actions

Sen. Todd Young supports getting 9/11 first responders medical help, but not co-sponsoring bill

Study: Sen. Todd Young accepted nearly $3M from NRA
Posted at 2:52 PM, Jun 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-21 14:58:49-04

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., said he supports efforts to get the heroes of 9/11 the medical support they need, but stopped short of saying he would co-sponsor the latest bill to do that.

The Senate version of the "Never Forget the Heroes" bill has 48 co-sponsors, including 14 republicans, but neither Young, nor Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., are one of them. Being a co-sponsor doesn't mean a senator will necessarily vote one way or another, but it's a sign of support if a bill has many co-sponsors from members of both parties.

The bill would permanently reauthorize the fund, which helps firefighters and police officers who helped on 9/11 get medical treatments.

The bill became a huge topic of conversation after Jon Stewart, the former host of “The Daily Show,” made an impassioned plea to get the bill passed.

“American heroes, we all recognize, need to receive the full compensation of which they’re due,” Young said. “I’m hopeful we’re able to consider that measure that’s being passed out of the house. We’ll consider it here in the senate real soon.”

Five U.S. House members from Indiana are co-sponsoring the house version of the bill, including Democratic Rep. André Carson and Republican Rep. Susan Brooks.