New York Pols: Get 9/11 Health Care Bill To Floor

New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer believe they have secured passage for the Zadroga health care bill in the Senate, the bill that would create a $6 billion fund to pay for the health care of first responders at Ground Zero.

The bill, which has been languishing in the Senate since October, , and was filibustered by Senate Republican members.

Gillibrand said Sunday she believes the crafters of the bill have found a way to secure more Republican votes — by ensuring that it is totally paid for before passage.

"I believe we now have more than enough votes to pass this legislation," Gillibrand said. "We have been working extremely closely with a number of Republicans and have made a series of changes to the bill. Americans will be watching closely over the next few days and expecting the Senate to do what is right and fulfill our moral obligation to these heroes."

The changes to the bill include reducing the size of the fund for workers from $7.4 billion to just over $6 billion, through a settlement with some of the Ground Zero workers.

As well, the bill raises a portion of the funds necessary by introducing a two percent excise tax on foreign nations which take up U.S. government contracts and extending a travel promotion fee that was set to sunset in 2015.

In the event that the bill passes, the House of Representatives will have to go back into session to ratify the changes before the bill is passed to President Barack Obama's desk for his signature.

"Since this bill was blocked last week, we have redoubled our efforts to reach out to Republicans so we could finally pass this bill. The clock is winding down, but we believe we are on the verge of an eleventh-hour breakthrough," Schumer said. "This has been a long process. It's been like running a marathon. We've had a lot of ups and downs, but now the finish line is in sight. Barring a setback, we believe we are on a path to victory by the end of this week."

At a news conference Monday morning, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg strongly urged Congress to do what he believes is a national duty.

"America is too great a country to shirk that duty, we are too strong, too proud, too patriotic, and this is the week that we have to show it," Bloomberg said. "The time for excuses is over. Very simply, it's time to end the debate and let the bill be voted on."

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, D-Upper East Side, let New Yorkers in on her biggest concern as the days roll on.

"We have the votes to pass it, the question now is, do we have the time to pass it?" Maloney said.