The House has rejected a bill that would pay up to $7.4 billion in aid to people sickened by toxic dust from the World Trade Center.

The measure on Thursday night failed to win the neededtwo-thirds majority.

Members of Congress from New York and New Jersey who have pushedfor such a measure for years plan to continue pressing for the billafter Congress returns from its August recess.

The legislation is named for James Zadroga, a police detectivewho died at age 34. His supporters say he died from respiratorydisease contracted at ground zero, but New York City's medicalexaminer says Zadroga's lung condition was caused by prescriptiondrug abuse.