Mayor Bloomberg joined Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand in Washington D.C. Wednesday to introduce the September 11th Health Act, the first comprehensive 9/11 health bill to ever be introduced in the U.S. Senate. NY1's Michael Scotto filed the following report.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg took a detour from the campaign trail Wednesday and went to the nation's capital to talk health.

In the morning, he helped Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduce legislation to the Senate that aims to provide treatment for people who got sick after the World Trade Center attack. The bill would reopen the 9/11 victim compensation fund and provide federal money for health care programs to monitor and treat those who developed illnesses while living near or working on the toxic pile.

"Passing this bill will at long last fully engage the federal government in resolving the health challenges created by the terrorist attack against our entire nation," said Bloomberg.

The legislation has a price tag of $12 billion and is nearly identical to a bill that is currently being reviewed in the House of Representatives. The press conference brought together Gillibrand and one of her potential rivals, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.

"She's done outstanding work on this legislation," said Gillibrand.

Mayor Bloomberg also had several closed-door meetings at the Capitol. He met with elected officials and urged them to get behind President Obama's push to reform health care.

The mayor said he wants the President and Congress to work out the details and wouldn't delve into the debate over a public health care plan.

"What I support and don't support is not important. What I care about is how any plan they pass will effect New York City," said Bloomberg.

Joining the Mayor on his trip was Healthcare union leader Chair Dennis Rivera. Rivera has worked with the mayor on this issue before, but said their collaboration is not an indication of how Local 1199 will lean in the mayor's race.

"I'm incredibly grateful to him that he's adding his voice to the millions of Americans who want health care reform," said Rivera.