Washington, DC - Congressman Dan Lungren (R-CA), member of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after joining with Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), in offering legislation to reopen Title II of the Victim Compensation Fund for first responders. This legislation would aid first responders injured from working in the World Trade Center debris following the attacks of 9/11.

"I am pleased to work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle on such an important issue. The facts are clear and those facts convey a moral obligation which has not been diminished by the passage of time. The first responders who suffer from the toxins today and the others like them who will be discovered in the future deserve our assistance in their time of need. This is our opportunity to stand up for this first responders and workers who stood in our place when they were called to do so."

The legislation passed today will make improvements to the already existing legislation dealing with the Victims Compensation Fund.