McConnell: 9/11 Fund Will Get Money; Stewart 'Bent Out of Shape'

The 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund will be fully funded, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday, adding that he doesn't know why comedian Jon Stewart, who has been a vocal advocate for the first responders in the attack, is "all bent out of shape" over the bill.

"Many things in Congress are the last minute," the Kentucky Republican told Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "We will address it again. I don't know why he is all bent out of shape. We will take care of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund."

Stewart on Sunday told "Fox News Sunday" anchor Chris Wallace that McConnell is the "white whale" for the funding measure, and that McConnell always holds out until the last minute.

Stewart was enraged last week when he and first responders appeared before a House hearing to fight for the bill, only to find that several committee members were not in attendance.

"That frequently happens because members have a lot of things going on at the same time," said McConnell. "It sounds to me like he is looking for some way to take offense. There is no way we won't address this problem appropriately. We have in the past. We will in the future."

Also on Monday, McConnell said lawmakers are "anxious" to see what President Donald Trump will recommend on healthcare, but meanwhile, it's "interesting" to see Democrats walking away from Obamacare in favor of "Medicare for all" plans.

McConnell also defended his comments on allowing a Supreme Court justice to be appointed in 2020, if necessary, even though he refused confirmation for President Barack Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland.

"You have to go back to 1888 to find last time a Senate from a different party from the president confirmed a vacancy to the Supreme Court that occurred during the presidential election," he said. "We will still control the Senate next year. If there is a vacancy, we will fill it."

• Schumer: Senate Must Vote Immediately on 9/11 Fund
• 9/11 Is Not a Memory: For First Responders It's a Current Event