Jon Stewart Set to Lobby Congress to Renew 9/11 Health Bill

Jon Stewart is putting his political knowledge and popularity into action by heading to Congress next week to lobby for the renewal of a health bill that supports 9/11 first responders.

The former “Daily Show” host will offer his support to continue a program that monitors thousands of people for health problems related to their work at Ground Zero, the senator leading the lobbying effort said Tuesday.

Stewart will join Ground Zero first responders making the rounds on Capitol Hill and “will help them amplify their voices” in promoting the need to renew the program, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York told USA Today.

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Established in 2010, the World Trade Center Health Program monitors 33,000 people for 9/11-related illnesses but is set to expire at the end of the month, just over two weeks after the 14th anniversary of the attacks.

Ailments stemming from the tragedy include respiratory and digestive disorders, and mental health conditions, along with secondary conditions related to disease progression or complication from treatment.

Stewart first took up the cause of the rescuers in 2010, calling out lawmakers for not passing the bill that provided $1.6 billion for the health and monitoring program by devoting an entire show to the issue and inviting survivors on the share their stories.

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A native New Yorker, Stewart aired a moving tribute to the victims of the attack on his first “Daily Show” episode after 9/11 that aired on Sept. 20, 2001.

Following a nine-minute tearful description of his personal view of the horrific events, he said: “The view … from my apartment … was the World Trade Center … and now it’s gone, and they attacked it.

“This symbol of American ingenuity, and strength, and labor, and imagination and commerce, and it is gone. But you know what the view is now? The Statue of Liberty. The view from the South of Manhattan is now the Statue of Liberty. You can’t beat that.”

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Stewart retired as host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” on Aug. 6 after 16 years.

34 'Daily Show With Jon Stewart' Correspondents and Contributors (Photos)

In honor of Stewart's retirement from Comedy Central's "Daily Show" on Aug. 6, here's a look at the dream team who helped make the best fake news program on TV a hit.
Comedy Central
Lewis Black (1996 - )
The "Back in Black" contributor has been there from the start.

Also Read: Lewis Black on Whitney Houston Death Coverage: Hours of Terrible Song Puns (Video)
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Stephen Colbert (1997-2005)
The long-time correspondent went on to host "The Colbert Report" and is replacing David Letterman on the "Late Show."
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Mo Rocca (1998-2003)
"The Daily Show" gave Rocca his start in television; he later appeared on "The Tonight Show" and "CBS This Morning."
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Vance DeGeneres (1999-2001)
DeGeneres, the older brother of Ellen DeGeneres, appeared on "Dollars and Cents" and "A Tale of Survival" segments.
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Nancy Walls (1999-2002)
Walls, who appeared on "We Love Showbiz" and "Dollars and Cents," is married to fellow former correspondent Steve Carell.
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Steve Carell (1999-2005)
Carell went on to star in "The Office," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Despicable Me."

Also Read: Steve Carell, Moby Team With LA Mayor Eric Garcetti on Water Conservation Push (Video)
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Miriam Tolan (2000-2001)
Tolan starred in "The Heat" and "The Dictator."
Comedy Central
Matt Walsh (2001-2002)
Walsh appeared on "News You Can Utilize" and "Dollars and Cents" before graduating to HBO's "Veep."
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Lauren Weedman (2001-2002)
Weedman appeared on Dollars and Cents" and "We Love Showbiz" segments.
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Mary Birdsong (2002)

Birdsong had a brief stint as contributor.
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Rob Corddry (2002-2006)
Corddry appeared on "This Week in God" and "Come On!" segments before wading into "Childrens Hospital," two "Hot Tub Time Machine" movies and HBO's "Ballers."
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Ed Helms (2002-2006)

Helms recently starred in the 2015 comedy "Vacation."
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Rachael Harris (2002-2003)
Harris appeared in "Mark Your Calendar" and "We Love Showbiz."
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Samantha Bee (2003-2015)
Bee, who married her castmate Jason Jones, has one of the show's longest runs as correspondent.
TBS
Bob Wiltfong (2004-2005)
Wiltfong also appeared on Dave Chappelle's show and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."
Comedy Central
Dan Bakkedahl (2005-2007)
Bakkedahl was initially hired to replace Colbert.
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Jason Jones (2005-2015)
The husband of Samantha Bee famously appeared in "Are You Prepared?!?" and "Jason Jones 180" segments.
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Nate Corddry (2005-2006)

The younger brother of Rob was one half of the show's "Brother vs. Brother" segments.
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Dan Bakkedahl (2005-2007)
Bakkedahl was hired to replace Stephen Colbert.
Comedy Central
Rob Riggle (2006-2008)
Riggle was the senior military affairs correspondent.
E! Network
John Oliver (2006-2013)
After serving as Senior British Person and filling in for Stewart for several months as host, Oliver left to helm his own show, "Last Week Tonight" on HBO.
Comedy Central
John Hodgman (2006- )
Hodgman recurs as the show's Resident Expert and Deranged Millionaire.
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Aasif Mandvi (2006- )
Mandvi remains the Senior Middle East Correspondent.
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Larry Wilmore (2006-2014)
Wilmore served as the Senior Black Correspondent before leaving to host Comedy Central's "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore."
Comedy Central
Wyatt Cenac (2008-2012)
Cenac was a senior correspondent who voiced the puppet version of former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele.

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Kristen Schaal (March 2008 - )
Schaal, who now stars on HBO's "Last Man on Earth," is the women's issues correspondent.
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Josh Gad (2009-2011)
Gad served as a contributing correspondent for a brief time.
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Olivia Munn (2010-2011)
Munn served as the Senior Asian Correspondent on "The Daily Show."
Todd Cole/SELF
Al Madrigal (2011 - )
Madrigal is both the Senior Latino Correspondent and the California Correspondent.
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Jessica Williams (2012 - )
Williams doubles as the Senior Youth Correspondent and the Senior Beyoncé Correspondent.
Comedy Central
Michael Che (2014)
Che's stint on the show was cut short when he left to co-anchor the "Weekend Update" segment on "Saturday Night Live."

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Comedy Central
Trevor Noah (2014-2015)
The show's Senior International Correspondent is slated to take over once Stewart retires.

Also Read: Jon Stewart’s ‘Daily Show’ By the Numbers: Hey, Trevor Noah, We’re Rooting for You
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Jordan Klepper (2014 - )
Klepper serves as the Senior Caucasian Correspondent.
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Hasan Minhaj (2014 - )
Minhaj is the show's Senior Indian Correspondent.
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Steve Carell, Jessica Williams, Lewis Black and Olivia Munn have all worked with Stewart during his 16-year run as host

In honor of Stewart's retirement from Comedy Central's "Daily Show" on Aug. 6, here's a look at the dream team who helped make the best fake news program on TV a hit.

View In Gallery

34 'Daily Show With Jon Stewart' Correspondents and Contributors (Photos)

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