Bhattacharyya said earlier this year that from 2011 to 2016, 19,000 people sought compensation. That figure was eclipsed in the following two years and in January of this year nearly 5,000 people sought payouts.

Congress created the fund 11 days after the attacks to help victims, while also shielding from liability the airlines whose planes were flown into the towers, the Pentagon and a field in southern Pennsylvania. The fund pays out different amounts based on a victim’s expected lifetime earnings had the victim not died or been rendered unable to work, and the size of the victim’s family. It operated for three years, then went dormant until 2011 when an outcry from victims prompted Congress to reopen it. It was reauthorized again in 2015.

Despite the unknown price tag, lawmakers praised the latest reauthorization measure for offering much-needed financial relief to thousands of first responders and others who are suffering from cancer and other health effects. Without a renewal of the program and new funding, some victims face cuts to their promised compensation of as much as 70 percent.

“People are still getting sick as diseases like cancer emerge after long latency periods,” Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler said. “It is time for us to give responders and survivors peace of mind once and for all.”

Stewart’s plea

The vote came one day after an emotional appeal from Stewart at a subcommittee hearing on the bill. Stewart, who has used his celebrity to draw public attention to the plight of cancer-stricken first responders, told lawmakers on June 11 it was “shameful” that more of them didn’t bother to show up for the sparsely attended hearing.