Schumer blasted Congress's handling of the fund as "shameful," arguing that 9/11 responders were forced to come to Capitol Hill to ask for more funding every time they needed an extension.

"It’s shameful. There’s no other word for it. Shameful, that our brave first responders have had to suffer the indignity of delay after delay after delay, of searching for some must-pass bill to tuck their issue into because this Congress, this Senate, didn’t think it was important enough to pass on its own," Schumer said.