CABRERA: A retired NYPD officer, who made a searing appearance before Congress to plead for continued health benefits for 9/11 first responders, has died. And 53-year-old Luis Alvarez passed away today after a long battle with cancer he traced to the months he spent helping to clean up Ground Zero. It was just 18 days ago that Alvarez testified before Congress, alongside Jon Stewart, to make sure a fund to compensate victims of 9/11 doesn't run out of money.</s>ALVAREZ: I have been lucky enough to have had 68 rounds of chemo. Yes, you heard me right, 68 rounds. Many others haven't had the opportunity to have five. Some have had none. Their families would love to have time with them and mine with time with me. We became police officers, firefighters, paramedics to help others. We went to Ground Zero, the Pentagon and Shanksville to help people first and then help their families bury someone or something. We were there with one mission and we left after completing that mission. I had been to many places in this world -- excuse me -- and done many things. But I can tell you that I did not want to be anywhere else but Ground Zero when I was there. We were part of showing the world that we would never back down from terrorism and that we could all work together, no races, no colors, no politics. This fund is not a ticket to paradise. It is there to provide for our families when we can't. Nothing more. You all said you would never forget. Well, I'm here to make sure that you don't.
Remembering 9/11 Hero: Luis Alvarez Who Testified Before Congress In His Final Days Dies