John Feal struggled to hold back tears on Sunday in Midtown.
Through the Fealgood Foundation, Feal — a demolition expert who worked at Ground Zero during and after 9/11 — has dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of first responders and veterans. Standing outside the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System at 423 East 23rd St., alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and veterans, Feal fumed with anger and swelled with sorrow over the PACT Act being stalled in the Senate.
The fury rose from Feal amidst the summer heat as he seethed over the Republican blocked bill that, if passed, would have expanded benefits for veterans who have experienced toxic exposure. Many saw the PACT Act as a surefire bipartisan pass yet 25 Republican senators flipped their vote Wednesday.