Firefighters and other first responders from the September 11, 2001 attacks lobbied Congress Thursday to extend a law that provides health care benefits for those who were exposed to toxic dust after the attacks.
The James Zadroga Act expired earlier in the fall, and Congress did not extend it during budget negotiations. Those affected can still receive their health care for now, but federal officials say they will face some challenges in the new year.
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy joined elected officials, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, on Capitol Hill to call on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan to extend and fully fund the bipartisan act by the end of the year.