WASHINGTON – Jon Stewart went after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on Monday to urge him to usher through passage of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund.

Stewart and first responders had testified before a congressional panel last week to discuss the need to reauthorize the fund, which was set up after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to help pay for medical and economic losses as a result of the terrorist attacks. Now, 18 years later, it’s running out of money and has to make steep cuts to its payments unless it’s reauthorized.

During the segment, Stewart appears from beneath Colbert's desk to address McConnell, the Kentucky Republican. He started by addressing comments McConnell had made during a Fox News interview on Monday. McConnell had said, "many things in Congress happen at the last minute...we will address it again. I don't know why he's all bent out of shape," referring to Stewart.

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In response to Stewart's criticism of members of Congress for not initially showing up for the hearing, McConnell added that it "frequently happens because members have a lot of things going on at the same time."

Stewart shot back, saying, "No, Mitch McConnell, I am not bent out of shape! I am in fine shape...I am bent out of shape for them," referring to the first responders.

In response to McConnell's comments on the members' absences, Stewart said sarcastically, "I didn't mean to interrupt them with their JOBS!"

Stewart, the former host of the "Daily Show," then addressed McConnell directly.

“Senator, you're not good at this argument thing. Basically we're saying you love the 9/11 community when they serve your political purposes, but when they’re in urgent need, you slow-walk, you dither. You used it as a political pawn to get other things you want, and you don’t get the job done completely, and your answer to that charge is, ‘Yeah, duh, we’re Congress. That’s how we do.'”

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Stewart called on McConnell to meet with the 9/11 community "tomorrow as soon as possible," saying "you can pass this thing as a standalone bill tomorrow. Meet with them. I'm begging you."

The reauthorization bill, which currently has 320 bipartisan House cosponsors, is expected to pass the House. It passed the House Judiciary Committee on June 12 and now goes to consideration by the full House. However, it is unclear if it will pass the Republican-controlled Senate. Previous renewal attempts faced opposition from Senate Republicans who objected to the price tag of reauthorization legislation.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jon Stewart slams Mitch McConnell over 9/11 victim fund on Stephen Colbert's show