is a high school student blocks from ground zero or 9-11. she was sent back to class less than a month after the attack while the pile was still burning. i haven t had my 20th high school reunion yet. i already have five former classmates with lymphoma that i know personally. the compensation fund started in 2014 with $7 billion less than $2 billion is left. it s scheduled to stop paying in december 2020. this despite the fact that many thousands of first responders were just added to the eligibility list and many thousands are expected to develop cancers in the years ahead because of the toxic air they breathed while serving the city and the nation. jon stewart was among those imploring a subcommittee to extend the program and make sure assistance is given to all that need it as long as they live. there s not an empty chair on that stage that didn t tweet out