John Feal
John Feal (born November 13, 1966) is an American political activist and retired construction worker from Commack, NY, known for his advocacy on behalf of
Ground Zero when a falling steel beam landed on his foot. He developed gangrene, then sepsis, and eventually required partial amputation. As Feal's injury occurred just outside of a 96-hour window following the attack, he was denied compensation for the injury. The denial led to him becoming an advocate for 9/11 first responders.[1][2] Feal founded the FealGood Foundation, dedicated toward lobbying members of the U.S. Congress to provide additional funding to 9/11 responders, as well as connecting responders with various resources.[3] In 2019, Feal worked closely with comedian and fellow advocate Jon Stewart to lobby Congress for the renewal of a 9/11 victim's compensation fund. After Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee opposed motion for unanimous consent of the renewal, Feal and Stewart appeared in a viral segment on Fox News lambasting the Senators.[4]
Feal and his activism were profiled in the 2021 documentary film No Responders Left Behind.[5]
References
- ^ "The Man Who Helped the 9/11 Bill Fly". The Wall Street Journal. December 24, 2010.
- ^ "Sept. 11 First Responder Fights on Behalf of Others who Rushed to Help". NPR. September 11, 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ Baldoni, John (September 12, 2017). "John Feal Teaches Us What It Means To Serve Others". Forbes Magazine. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ Creitz, Charles (July 17, 2019). "Jon Stewart blasts Rand Paul's 9/11 compensation fund vote delay, accuses him of 'fiscal responsibility virtue signaling'". Fox News. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ Nicholas Rapold, "‘No Responders Left Behind’ Review: Heroes Need Heroes Too". The New York Times, September 9, 2021.