Health bill for 9/11 responders clears Congress

The so-called James Zadroga 9/11 health bill was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on a vote of 206-60 after it cleared the U.S. Senate by voice vote.

President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill.

The bill would provide medical treatment for emergency responders sickened by toxic dust inhaled at the World Trade Center site in New York in the days following the attack. Republicans had balked at the initial $7.4 billion cost of the 10-year bill, which had been approved by the House, and blocked Senate passage.

Backers early on Wednesday struck a deal whittling down the size of the bill to a five-year bill at a cost of $4.3 billion. The Senate quickly approved it without debate and the House .

The bill provides for a health program for responders sickened by the toxic debris and establishes a victim compensation fund. Victims have five years to file claims.

The cost is paid for by an excise tax on government purchases from companies in countries that are not part of the World Trade Organization procurement arrangements. The U.S. business community had objected to that provision.

The money collected will also help reduce the deficit by $450 million over 10 years, according to estimates.