Insult to Injury

9/11 Responders to Be Screened by FBI

For possible ties to terrorists.

There really is something inherently wrong in this. A provision in the new 9/11 health bill requires all 9/11 responders to be screened through the FBI’s Terrorism Watch List to receive treatment, The Huffington Post reported Thursday. Failure to comply will result in the responder not receiving treatment for ailments relating to the disaster. “It’s comical at best, and I think it’s an insult to everyone who worked on The Pile and is sick and suffering from 9/11,” said John Feal, a former construction worker who lost half a foot at ground zero. After a heated debate, Congress passed a bill in December that would provide medical care to 9/11 responders, despite objections from Republicans that the bill was not funded properly. The terrorism watch list was added as an amendment by Florida Rep. Cliff Stearns, a Republican, and Democrats agreed to it to get the bill passed.