nypd lou alvarez became a symbol for first responders. he died saturday at the age of 53. there were hundreds of officers, 9/11 responders and family members who lined up outside of the church in queens to say good-bye to lou alvarez. >> it was hard to see what he went through. but it makes me proud. >> reporter: the mourners include alexandria ocasio-cortez and jon stewart, who saluted his cask casket. he died saturday, after a three-year battle with colorectal cancer. >> louis asked that we remember everyone who died on 9/11. >> reporter: alvarez spent months working on the pile at toxins that were released after the towers collapsed. last month, he joined stewart in washington to plead with lawmakers to permanently fund the september 11th compensation fund. >> lou just wanted to do what's right. and he wanted others, particularly those in positions of great power to follow suit. >> reporter: alvarez's last days were spent fighting for first responders and their families from his hospice room. but the father who livid and died by this message wanted his sons to remember

so lou alvarez' passing is not in vain.now, when he gave me his shield to give to mitch mcconnell and i shook mitch mcconnell's hand, i'm going to keep mitch mcconnell's word, he said he was going to get this done before the summer recess. i can tell you now, that when we leave here today and we get off air, that we're going to make sure that mitch mcconnell sticks to his word and over the next week or 23two we're going to ke the pressure on the senate. we're now done with the house, that means senator gillibrand would technically make 23 co sponsors. that means there are 27 members of the senate that aren't on board. i'm giving you the next week to get on board or we're going to make your life miserable. >> i know you say you're not celebrating, hope you'll take our congratulations on this victory. thank you so much for joining us. john field, thank you to you. and the heroes of 9/11, your colleagues, for your service. >> thank you for having us. >> we'll be right back. t what i. is boost® delicious boost® high protein nut

family members who lined up outside the immaculate conception church in queens to say good-bye to lou alvarez it was hard to see what louis went through, but it also makes me proud. >> reporter: the mourners included congresswoman alexandria ocasio-cortez and comedian jon stewart, who saluted alvarez's casket. the retired n.y.p.d. bomb squad detective died saturday after a three-year battle with colorectal cancer. >> louis asked me and the family that we remember at this mass everyone who died on 9/11. >> begnaud: alvarez spent months working on the pile, searching for victims at ground zero. his stage-four cancer was linked to his exposure to deadly toxins that were released after the twin towers collapsed. >> this fund is not a ticket to paradise. >> begnaud: last month, he joined stewart in washington, to plead with lawmakers to permanently fund the september 11th compensation fund. >> all throughout his remarkable life, lou just wanted to do what's right, and he desperately wanted others, particularly those in positions of great power, to follow suit. >> begnaud: alvarez's last days were

first responders including lou alvarez made a emotional pleas before congress. ever seeing this bill passed. the collapse of the world trade center sent a thick cloud of toxic dust over were lower manhattan for weeks. i say toxic now because we know it was, but they assured us, doctors and nurses and everyone working down there that the air was perfectly safe and it was not. thousands of construction workers, police officers, firefighters and others breathed in those fumes for weeks on end while digging through the piles of smoldering debris or supporting the effort. it is estimated that as many as 95,000 will eventually become ill. then, there are the first responders that rushed in to help after the attacks at the pentagon and in shanksville, pennsylvania. so now that the senate has voted to help the sick and dying survivors, extended is an item and we expect to hear from 9/11 survivors. mike emanuel is live on capitol hill. and it happened. >> the outcome is not endowed, with 75 cosponsors, and it's been coming up for 15 years. noted, it's been a long struggle

so lou alvarez' passing is not -- is not in vain. i'm not crying. know lou is smiling right now and when lou gave me his shield to give to mitch mcconnell, and i shook mitch mcconnell's hand and i'm going to keep mitch mcconnell's word that he said he was going to get this done before the summer recess and i could tell you now that when we leave here today and we get off air that we'll make sure that mitch mcconnell sticks to his word. >> he mentioned lou alvarez, he was a bomb squad detective who dedicated the final years for this fund and he died for the time linked with first responders down at ground zero and that heads to the u.s. senate and the timing of the voting isn't clear but mitch mcconnell has promised to hold a vote on it. >>> last fall we shared the story of luke mickelson, a top ten cnn hoero from twin falls, idaho who quit his day job to follow his new-found passion givi giving -- giving kids a new found sleep by building bunkbeds a and it took off in a way a small-town farm boy wouldn't have imagined. >> we went from one community t

. >> tonight is the wake, tomorrow night, as well of detective alvarez, who i spoke to -- >> lou alvarez>> who i spoke to a few days before he died whavmt. what a wonderful man. he said to me, this is probably the last time i'll talk to you but please fight hard to get this money. john feel, alvarez and some of the others did a great job, mcconnell has now said and this is a big step forward he'll deal with it in august. how should he deal with it? fully. when the house passes the bill, don't cut back. don't put it onni something tha might not past. it has 60 co-sponsors, democrats and republicans it will pass and be signed into law and that's the only right thing to do. >> do you think people will do it? >> the odds are high. i wish he could do it. he would have done it a long time ago but there is so much heat on him i think he may do it. i hope he doesn't play a little trick and only do part of it. >> appreciate your time. >> great to see you. >>> breaking news on some of the senator's democratic members not to mention the former colleague joe biden. what polling since the debate show

we're here with lou alvarez brother and sister. we're all just trying to keep focused with our eye on getting this community the help they need and making sure they never have to feel this burden and stress again. >> dana: mitch mcconnell said i think this is from a little while ago, the first responders who rushed into danger in 2001 are the very definition of american heroes. the senate has never forgotten the victim compensation fund. nothing about our shared goal is remotely partisan. we will consider this important legislation. as you said, they expect to do that before the end of the recess. the bill is going to be called never forget the heroes, and i was wondering when you're sitting there talking to them and this bill goes through 2090, it's the least we could do. >> i think that's right. there's always going to be shock that it's been this hard a fight and it's taken this long and that the only consideration here should be, is there a need? and the need is there, and the need is urgent. i think, you know, these men and wo

. >> lou alvarez stepped up, just like he did after 9/11. harry smith, nbc news, new york. >>> the refunding bill unanimously passed the house panel where alvarez testified and senator majority mcconnell said theeg will go to a floor vote this august. >>> it's been a weekend to enjoy the outdoors and that will continue into the start of the week as well. 76 degrees right now. overnight lows expected to drop down into the 60s. i will have a look at what you can expect. plus, your 4th of july forecast coming up. >>> sometimes we have really nice news and sometimes it comes with beautiful video like right now. six months ago, folks in the east bay found that golden eagle and they thought it was going to die. it had what appeared to be led poisoning. the animal that it ate had been shot with bullets or bb gun pellets. the eagle could not move its left leg. look at it now. workers from the rehabilitation center helped nurse the eagle back to strength. >> they sure did. >> it is so beautiful. >>> up to 45 years in business. it all came down to tod

so lou alvarez isn't. it's not i know, lou smiling right now.ill is passed without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table an extension to the 9.11 victims fund easily passing through the house by a vote of 402 to 12 extending funding through the year 2090. many 9.11 1st responders were there to witness the vote go down it. >>doesn't rex the grief and the suffering that they will continue to experience and going forward it just removes that extra burn that needn't have been there in the first place the bill now heads to the senate where timing on snth leader mitch mcconnell saying in a statement quote nothing about our shared goal to provide for these heroes is remotely partisan. we will consider this important legislation soon we're going to make sure that mitch mcconnell sticks to his word. >>this 27 members of the senate that aren't on board. so i'm giving you the next me to get on board will we get to make your life miserable. i'm reading in reporting. the current law which was last renewed in 2015 expires next year and the f

. >> today is about the heart and integrity of ray pfeiffer and courage of lou alvarez and the tenacity they lifted this 9/11 community on their shoulders and they carried them home. >> neil: and it is now done. the presidential signature that indicate support that the 9/11 condition victims fund will not be depleted and will be restored and will last for a good decade, at a minimum here, and beyond if necessary. chad pergram with the boat that went down in the united states senate. >> you don't see many votes this overwhelming. it was 97-2. they said we want to help these 911 victims but they were concerned the fund could go until 2090. it's been an emotional day on capitol hill as they finally lugged of this across the finish line. let me read you something from chuck schumer, senate minority leader, and what he set about this. he said "we are now at the end of a long struggle but the struggle does not end for those who are sick or those who might get sick. and for their families, at least we are giving them some help because they gave us help on that horrible day, 9/11. president tru

weeks ago when a dying lou alvarez, frail but fierce as ever pushed congress to support a compensation fund for 9/11 first responders. >> it's one thing to inspire people when things are going good, when things were going as bad as they were for luis alvarez, that's the test of a great hero. >> inside a nearly full church, the police commissioner praised alvarez for his service on 9/11 and after. >> these heroes responded to calls for help. they did not hesitate. that's who they were and still are. they are the very best among us. >> then lou's son shared his message before his father took his final breath. >> in his last moments before tathng his last brea i told him i loved him. before he became an american hero, he was mine. ration.my hero, my ins the one above all i wanted to make proud. >> the police commissioner urgee cong to reenact the victim's compensation fund and congressman peter king says it has to ppen. lling me he was supposed to see lou on sunday in hospice, but the detecte passed away on saturday. astoria, queens, john chandler, nbc news. >>> now at 6:00, a storm team

talk with a 9/11 first responder who was also a lawyer for the retired nypd prick detective at lou alvarezht for his fellow heroes until the day he died. but first today, a fox news urgent. an ole miss college student arrested and charged with murder. the victim of coed at the university, who sheriff's deputies found dead, shot eight times. the suspect is 22-year

we made, we forced, we shamed the process to work so lou alvarez's passing is not -- is not in vain.-- and i know lou's smiling right now and when lou gave me his shield to give to mitch mcconnell and i shook mitch mcconnell's hand and i'm going to keep mitch mcconnell's word that he said he was going to get this done before the summer recess, i can tell you now that when we leave here today and we get off air that we're going to make sure that mitch mcconnell sticks to his word. >> we are going to continue to report on this. this bill would permanently extend funding for those first responders and others at ground zero. some parts of louisiana are under mandatory evacuation orders. thousands are without power and the threat of flooding is getting more dire. cnn is covering all angles of barry. stay with us. you're live in the cnn "newsroom." have a discount with another wireless carrier? t-mobile will match it. need a few more reasons to switch? 1. do you like netflix? sure you do. that's why it's on us. 2. unlimited data. use as much as you want, when you want. 3. no surprises on y

we've seen already how, you know, lou alvarez has died and has not lived long enough to see the compensation. >> we're living in a time where the normal isn't there anymore. it's elusive. what should be a no brainer has become a great dilemma -- >> the fbi was headquartered in one of the towers. >> well, so understand the fbi association's doesn't come out a lot and lobby for things. what it's saying is to congress, we lost lives. the bureau lost lives in 9/11. they continue to lose lives through the illnesses that are attributed to that crime scene at 9/11. and yet we have congress saying to law enforcement federal law enforcement in particular, in this case, you know what? we don't know how valuable you are to our society. >> we have to leave it there. jon stewart said it better than we could. we played that already. jeremy, tom, and of course frank, thank you all so very much. >>> and coming up next. locked up. accused sex trafficker jeffrey epstein has now been denied bail today. a live report from federal court in new york next. stay with us right here on "andrea mitchell reports." we'r

mayor tweeted, the city can never repay its debt to detective lou alvarez, and will be be my honor to give him the key. >> he did it right away. and when we had john on, so many disappoints from government officials and the fact that it happened with such alacrity. >> it better happen. >> those guys get things done. they demand things and they get things done. >> the public funeral for luis alvarez will be tomorrow. >>> now to this, iran crossing a dangerous benchmark, why president trump says teheran is playing with fire. that's next. with all that usaa offers why go with anybody else? we know their rates are good, we know that they're always going to take care of us. it was an instant savings and i should have changed a long time ago. we're the tenney's and we're usaa members for life. call usaa to start saving on insurance today. her saturdays are a never- ending montage of comfort. [tv sfx]: where have you been all my life? but then anne laid on a serta perfect sleeper. and realized her life was only just sorta comfortable. not just sorta comfortable. serta comfortable. not just s

while in hospice, lou alvarez gave his final interview on this newscast. the government to make things right. customs agents are using facial recognition to snoop through americans' driver's license pictures, taking government surveillance to a whole new level. that is according to documents that researchers uncovered and reported first in "the washington post" newspaper. the researchers found that agents with immigration and customs enforcement have been scanning people's pictures during their investigations. it's not just criminals swept up in these searches, far from it. also law-abiding citizens who never gave permission in the first place. they are doing it without the consent of congress or state lawmakers. our chief intelligence correspondent catherine herridge reporting live from washington. >> good afternoon. the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement is not new. it took off after 9/11 and based on the latest records, it's use has expanded. the new records were obtained by georgetown law center on privacy and technology and the al

today it is about the heart james, joe, and integg grit of ray pfeiffer and courage of lou alvarez and tenacity of john thiel. they, they lifted this 9/11 community on their shoulders and they carried them home. i will always be so proud to have been associated with it and we can never repay all that, the 9/11 community has done for our country but we can stop penalizing them and today is that day, that they can excel because unfortunately the pain and suffering of what these heroes continue to go through is going it continue. there have been too many funerals, too many hospices. these families deserve better and i'm really, i'm hopeful that today begins the process of being able to heal without the burden of having to advocate. i will follow you, whatever your next adventure shall be. [applause] melissa: we're hearing from jon stewart there, at a news conference after the senate now has passed the 9/11 bill. moving on from here for these heroes. connell: 97-2 the vote. rand paul, mike lee, senators voting against. in a moment a looming medical risk. how a daily dose of this over-the-c

. >>> happening today, a wake for nypd detective lou alvarez he died saturday of colorectal cancer broughtby toxic air at ground zero. he gave emotional testimony pressing law makers to exten the victim's compensation fund which is running out of money he be honored with a funeral organized by the nypd and u.s. military. >>> federal officials in texas have recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the private plane that crashed shortly after take off. the crash happened sunday at addison airport north of dallas. officials say the plane just left the ground when it began losing power and altitude. it veered left sharply and crashing into an aircraft hangar. all ten people on board were killed including a family of four. a preliminary crash report is expected in the next two weeks. >>> and emergency landing in the mojave desert is caught on camera. the pilot's wife captured the moments after the engine failed midair. mark and his wife left the townof needles for chino they were taking the beechcraft for a test run after maintenance. he is not sure why the engine suddenly lost oil and he woke

. >> lou alvarez gave them a shield. >> keep your word.r word was this passes, unattached and as a stand ialon bill. fully funded. it is being add straigministrat remar remarkably well. it is getting relief to those who needed the most. this is like john has plowed the field, everything has been done and letters been written and put in the envelope and stamp is on it. all the senate has to do is mail the letter. that's all we are asking this em to do. they should do it before august 2nd. keep your word. >> that's the word. >> jon stewart and john field, thank you very much. and john f, thank you very much. >>> paul ryan was a lame duck for a long time as speaker. he was unable to raise money. he lost control of the house. the only successful he had was the time he admit for paul ryan to be complaining is amazing. for him to come out and open his mouth is pretty incredible. >> president trump slamming paul ryan, i thought that was yesterday's news. he did that today following release of a new book, "american carnage" by tim roberta. ryan cr

was an emotional service that was well attended by many as they gave thanks for everything that lou alvarezng goodbye and show up thanks for an american hero. 9/11 first responder luis alvarez laid to rest today in new york saluted and mourned by thousands. his body riddled with cancer caused by toxins at ground zero, where he spent three months searching for survivors and remains. he became a symbol of bravery for those who served, dedicating what was left of his life to renewing the 9/11 victims compensation fund, which is running out of money with more than 19,000 claims still pendin pending. >> note person who responded to 9/11 to the point of exhaustion, should ever need to beg our elected officials to act. >> just three weeks ago, the day before his 69th round of chemo, he muster the strength to go to capitol hill, joined by john stuart. >> this is not a ticket to paradise. it is there to provide for our families when we can't. >> they did their jobs with courage, grace, tenacity, humility. 18 years later, do yours! >> a group of friends who were fellow first responders gave alvarez's

as we celebrate this vote today, we celebrate the lives of people like lou alvarez. we'll never forget the heroes james delegate rode a, ray pfeiffer, and loual v.r.e. e. the september 11th victims compensation fund act is named to honor these three first responders who lost their lives to 9/11-related illnesses. today the senate has an opportunity to honor these three and so many others that we have lost who never stopped fighting for 9/11 first responders and the country they loved by voting yes on this critical legislation. i've shared with many of my colleagues, i never had the privilege of going to new york city before september 11th, 2001, but i will never forget my first visit after september 11, 2001. it was just a few weeks after the attack had happened. i'll never forget the smell. i'll never forget the smoke coming out of the debris pile. i'll never forget the silent fire trucks with their lights on but no siren as they delivered even more heroes to the recovery efforts at ground zero. i'll never forget the fierce dedication of the men and women who came w

yesterday mourners attend the wake of lou iz alvarez on long island, he died saturday after a three-yearat well cancer. last month he and others including jon stewart demanded congress extend 9/11 victims compensation fund. >>> los angeles angels said they could feel the presence of tyler skaggs. his body was found monday in his hotel room in texas and right now, no cause has been determined of his death. before last night's game against the rangers, the angels hung skaggs' jersey in the clubhouse. on the field they held a moment of silence for skaggs, painted his number onto the mound as well. l.a. ended up winning that game 9-4. >>> britain's prince harry is describing how fatherhood is helping him realize how important it is to have a good role model in life. harry and his wife meghan markle recently welcomed a new baby boy named ar the national youth mentoring summit in london yesterday. harry said that his late mother, princess diana had been a role model for many people. >> you don't have to be a princess or a public figure to be a role model. in fact, equally valuable if you are n

i think that we saw the testimony of lou alvarez and how that really moves the ball forward. u is not with us anymore. i'm going to go to the white house for ray pfeiffer, for louis alvarez, for so many other people that -- too numerous to name. that were on our team it really early on, they are no longer with us. they started to work with us to help us get this done, and i am just going to show up on their behalf today. >> bill: what are you going to tell the president given the opportunity? what will be your message to him? >> i appreciate his support for first responders throughout the nation. i hope that we can use today is a stepping stone perhaps choosing to it that our nation's warriors, the soldiers, who were put in harm's way, maybe we could do something now. now that we have seen that we can assist a september 111th responders, we can move this forward now. we have a big homeless problem. we have the burn pit where forward operating areas, these veterans are coming back with cancers sustained by their proximity to the burn pit, and i would just like to let him know t

. >> reporter: alvarez entered hospice care days after his appearance on capitol hill, weaker than ever, but his core values stronger than ever. >> loued others, particularly those in positions of great power, to follow suit. >> reporter: alvarez spent three months working in the rubble at ground zero and his colorectal cancer diagnosis was linked to that work. his struggle is now part of a legacy that's more critical than ever. >> we have to remember that we are here to help one another. and that's the only way we're going to survive any crisis. >> i pray that the angels led you in, just as i know you will be there to lead me in. just as you promised. >> absolutely a hero. the bill alvarez was fighting for still has to pass a full house vote and the senate. meanwhile, new york city mayor bill de blasio says he will give alvarez a posthumous key to the city "as a symbol of our profound respect and gratitude for his service." incredible work he did. >> i was thinking about the image we saw of him, younger, years ago. almost appears to be unrecognizable. but what is recognizable at the end was how brave and how determined he was to sav

of the day, and all throughout his remarkable life, lou just wanted to do what is right and he desperately wanted others to follow suit. >> alvarez'sembered his dad who was his hero before becoming one to so many others. >> in his last moments before taking his last breath, i told him i love him. i love you, dad. i promise to keep walking on the brave side of the line. i promise to be the man you inspired me to be. thank you. >> miguel marquez was at the service. miguel, what a hero. what stood out to you? >> reporter: it is always so difficult to attend these things because it is such a deeply heartfelt and emotional ritual at the nypd and law enforcement from around the area put on hundreds of police officers lining the church and streets outside the church where luis alvarez was remembered. his sister spoke in intimate terms talking about how her brother was their 1044 she said jokingly, in other words, their suspicious package. saying that in his final days, he was not in a great mood, that he was sleeping a lot, and that he came to at one point and said that he had been walking and walking. and when they asked where he was wal

people like lou alvarez who came to washington dc a few months ago postponing chemotherapy treatmentnt to advocate for his fellow heroes. he is not here to watch from the gallery today. he is watchingve from above. as we celebrate this life today. and the heroes james, and the permanent authorization act is named to honor these 31st responders who lost their lives. to those 9/11 related illnesses. today the senate has an opportunity to honor these three and so many others who never stopped fighting for those first responders in the country that they loved by voting yes on this critical legislation. have never had the privilege of going to new york city before september 11, but i will never forget my firstis visit a after. a few weeks after the attack happened. i will never forget the smell or o the smoke. i will t never forget the silent fire trucks with their lights on as they delivered even more heroes to the recovery efforts at ground zero. i will never forget the fierce dedication of the men and women who came when they were called. having to continue the work that is so emblazoned

their names are rate pfeifer, lou alvarez and james a drug. unfortunately, all of them got sick after being at ground zero and they have died in the years since. alvarez is really notable because he spent his final days on earth trying to advocate for the belt. the time before the house judiciary committee in an emotional testimony with jon stewart in the days before he hed, and in his final act, gave senator mitch mcconnell his nypd badge is a way to push for the legislation forward. host: and the house has already passed the bill, 402-12 more than a week ago. marisa: the bill had almost full support, but there are two senators holding it up, submitter rand paul and senator mike of the. senator christine gillibrand planned to press the bill but these two senators held it up. thursday, they reached a compromise. senators want to be a vote to allow amendments on the legislation tomorrow. assuming the amendments are voted down, it would go for passage in the senate and it is expected to pass. host: you mentioned john stewart of the daily show. h

of official washington sort of puts the unfolding tragedy of 9/11 sort of out of their mind and lou alvarez he was so gaunt and so frail when he was testifying, he really brought it home. then jon stewart sort of acted as the conscience, if you will, and chastised folks for not being there. i mean, it was a subcommittee hearing and there probably wouldn't normally be a lot of people there, but the sort of symbolic weight of it was very powerful. of course, after that hearing was over mr. alvarez went back to new york where he was supposed to get his 69th round of chemotherapy, but he was too ill, his liver had stopped functioning and he died about two weeks later. >> if the bill does pass the house, what's the current plan for a vote in the senate? >> well, the current plan is not entirely clear. majority leader mcconnell has promised that he will act on that legislation before the august recess. so there is a lot of wiggle room in there as to exactly how that gets done. i have heard from at least one republican that it's not going to go through committee because that might take too long an

the alvarez tried to -- lou eldreth spent his final years trying to lobby for this bill. he had emotional testimony with jon stewart in the days before his final act, he gave senator mitch mcconnell a way to push as this legislation forward. host: the house had already passed this bill. 402-12, more than one week ago. what went into getting this legislation to the senate? guest: the legislation had bipartisan support but there were two senators holding it up. rand paul from kentucky and senator mike lee from utah. was week, what happened gillibrand starts to pass this through unanimous consent on the senate floor. these two senators held it up. on thursday, they reached a compromise. these two senators were allowing amendments tomorrow. assuming they would be voted down, then the bill would go to full passage in the senate and it is expected to pass. host: you mentioned jon stewart, formerly of the daily show. how much influence did he and the first responders, how much influence did they have? guest: jon stewart has made this his passion project. he started it when he wa