Sept. 11 first responders, Ground Zero volunteers, and elected officials like U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have vowed to continue the push toward a permanent extension of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
The Zadroga Act, passed by Congress in 2010, helped ensure proper monitoring and treatment for thousands of men, women and children that face potential life-threatening health effects due to the toxins released at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Two of the Zadroga bill’s critical programs—the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund—are set to expire in September 2015 and October 2016. Gillibrand, along with a bipartisan group of senators and members of the House of Representatives in April introduced the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act to permanently extend these programs.
“Our first responders answered the call of duty when our nation was under attack, and deserve to be treated by Congress as the veterans they really are,” Gillibrand said. “We cannot abandon the men and women who now suffer as a result of their sacrifice, and must pass a permanent extension of the programs they rely upon. These heroes should not have to walk the halls of the Capitol to beg for the benefits they have earned, and I will proudly walk with them until we secure the health and compensation programs they deserve.”
The new James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act would, among other items:
Continue the World Trade Center Health Program: The World Trade Center Health Program administered by NIOSH would continue medical monitoring for 9/11-related illnesses for over 62,000 9/11 first responders and treatment for over 8,475 injured 9/11 survivors. Over 33,000 responders and survivors have at least one or more medical conditions as a result of their 9/11 exposure. Most of these conditions require chronic care. These conditions include severe respiratory diseases, chronic sinus problems, and psychological conditions such as PTSD. Over 4,385 incidences of WTC-related 9/11 cancers have been certified in program participants, including over 950 among people working for the NYC Fire Department, and more are expected.
Continue to Provide Monitoring and Treatment for Communities Throughout the Nation: The program would continue to provide medical monitoring and treatment for responders to the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the Shanksville, PA crash site who live outside the New York metropolitan area. This legislation would continue that treatment for over 8,475 injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors including responders who came to New York to provide assistance after 9/11 and those from New York who have moved out of the New York Metropolitan area. There are currently responders and survivors who are participating in the WTC Health Program from every state and from 429 of 435 Congressional Districts.
Continue the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund: Under the bill, the fund, which is scheduled to close on Oct. 3, 2016, would remain open and be fully funded to provide compensation for economic damages and loss for responders and survivors who were injured by exposure to the toxins at Ground Zero.
