Jon Stewart Gets Standing Ovation After Ripping Congress’ Treatment Of 9/11 First Responders

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 11: Former Daily Show Host Jon Stewart testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on reauthorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund on Capitol Hill on June 11, 2019 in ... WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 11: Former Daily Show Host Jon Stewart testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on reauthorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund on Capitol Hill on June 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. The fund provides financial assistance to responders, victims and their families who require medical care related to health issues they suffered in the aftermath of 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Comedian Jon Stewart ripped into Congress on Tuesday during a House Judiciary Committee hearing for failing to properly fund the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

The VCF announced on February 15 that it was running out of money, which would lead to “significant reductions in awards” to the victims of 9/11, including the first responders who still suffer illnesses from breathing in the fumes of the destroyed World Trade Center in 2001.

Stewart, along with a group of first responders who assisted in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, appeared on Capitol Hill to push the committee to reauthorize the VCF. During his scorching testimony, Stewart blasted the committee and Congress at large for their “callous indifference and rank hypocrisy.”

First he criticized the “nearly empty” side of the room where lawmakers sat.

“Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak to no one,” Stewart said. “Shameful.”

“Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity: time,” he said later on. “It’s the one thing they’re running out of.

“They did their jobs with courage, grace, tenacity, humility,” Stewart said at the end of his speech, his voice breaking. “Eighteen years later, do yours!”

Everybody standing behind him stood up and applauded.

Watch Stewart’s testimony below:

Latest News
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: