attributed to post-9/11 exposure. until now the program s been funded five years at a time, which means, once again, it s set to expire in 2020. it s an insult that they keep continuing to put a date, an arbitrary date on legislation. five years here, five years there. everybody knows these cancers and respiratory illnesses have different latency periods. we re sick and dying but we re not stupid. first responders pride themselves on response time. it s the thing they work on so the people and the communities that they serve are well served by their actions. and yet each and every time when they have a need, our response is inadequate, slow, and apathetic. last week the justice department announced drastic cuts to claim payouts, some as steep as 70%. that s because the fund is close to exceeding its total limit of $7.3 billion.
by 2021, it is predicted to surface 3,000. congress gave the victim compensation fund $7.3 billion to pay up and until december 18th, 2020. the fund is dwindling fast. so far, $5 billion has been spent on 21,000 claims leaving just $2.3 billion to compensate 20,000 pending claims still awaiting an award. thousands more are expected to file a claim in the next two years. fund administrators say they have no chose but to cut all payouts to pending claims by 50% and future claims will receive award 70% less than what they should be getting. we are painfully aware this is inequitable. we are hopeful that despite the difficult situation, the work we do can continue to provide at least some measure of needed relief. the need has been far greater than administrators projected. 2018 saw a record number of
conference urging congress to act. brian is here with is live from new york city. reporter: in just moments, new york city firefighters will urge lawmakers to stop major cut toss the 9/11 victim compensation fund. some 2200 first responders, volunteers and residents have died from 9/11-related illnesses due to their exposure to the toxic dust thrown in the air in the wake of the world center collapse. by 202 1, those that have died from illnesses, the $7.3 billion fund was set up in 2011. it is running out of money fast. there are $2.3 billion left. fund administrators say in order to insure that everyone who needs money gets it, they will have to cut award and future claims by 70%. the cash short fall is due to a record number of new claims
solution is, but i know this month the fund was authorized to protect people who got sick. for their work of the world trade center. there are still people getting sick, so the intent of the fund did not meet its original target. because there are still plenty of sick people. the $7.3 billion victim fund was started in 2011. so far, $5 billion has got a 20,000 plus claims living just $2.3 billion for 20,000 pending or future claims. now, fund organizers need to cut pending claims, the awards given out by pending claims, by 50%. and they need to cut future claims and the awards given out by 70%. harris, there is bipartisan legislation that will be introduced on monday to permanently fund it so that is not to be another reauthorization in the future. harris: bryan llenas, thank you very much. i will be right back. alright, i brought in
and dying because they were exposed to toxic dust. the number of people dying is now nearing the number of those killed in the attacks in by 2021 congress gave the victim compensation fund. $7.3billion to pay out until december 18, 2020 and $33.2 billion thousands more are expected to file a claim within the next two years. so all pending claims filed before february 1 will receive play out slashed by 50% and all claims and it is an