EDITORIAL: 9/11 workers need Congress to act

Thousands of 9/11 rescuers - whose work in the Ground Zero debris made them ill - deserve fair restitution. There's a better settlement on the table today than the one a federal judge rejected in March, but they may have to decide whether to accept this deal with New York City before they find out if Washington will provide a better alternative.

Congress needs to act quickly to eliminate that uncertainty. Police, firefighters and others who are sick, or could get sick in the future, deserve a clear choice.

The $713-million settlement includes $125 million more for workers than the previous offer. The city's federally funded captive insurer would pay more, and plaintiffs' lawyers would get less. Individual workers will collect from $3,250 to $1.5 million - but only if 95 percent of the 11,000 plaintiffs join the all-or-nothing settlement by Sept. 30.

The fate of a bill in Congress to provide $8.2 billion for a larger universe of rescue workers may not be decided before that deadline. Despite a determined effort by its sponsors, the bill - which would bar payment to anyone who has successfully sued the city - has been stalled for years. Proponents say the goal is to get it passed by Sept. 11. At minimum, sick rescue workers should be able to make an informed decision. hN