Jon Stewart keeping up pressure on Mitch McConnell

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Entertainer and activist Jon Stewart lends his support to firefighters, first responders and survivors of the September 11 terror attacks at a hearing by the House Judiciary Committee as it considers permanent authorization of the Victim Compensation Fund, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 11, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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NEW YORK (AP) — Comic Jon Stewart used his buddy Stephen Colbert’s late-night show to keep the heat on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for passage of legislation to replenish a victims’ fund for first responders to the 9/11 attacks.

Stewart mocked McConnell on Colbert’s “Late Show” Monday night, even though the Senate leader had said earlier Monday that “we’ve never failed to address this issue and we will address it again.” Stewart demanded more urgency.

Stewart accused McConnell of slow-walking the legislation and using it as a political pawn to get other things done.

The legislation would ensure the fund can pay benefits for 70 years. The Justice Department has said the fund is being depleted and benefit payments are being cut up to 70 percent.