Without Congressional Action, The WTCHP Will Have To Start Turning Away First Responders And Survivors And Cut Back Access To Care By 2028
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Representatives Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), and Dan Goldman (D-NY) held a press conference with advocates and survivors to introduce the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024. The bill provides permanent and mandatory funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and updates an outdated funding formula to prevent a future funding shortfall and ensure that survivors and first responders don’t lose access to care. The senators and representatives were also joined by 9/11 advocate John Feal, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York Andrew Ansbro, President of the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association Vincent Vallelong, and 9/11 advocate Phil Alvarez.
Summary of the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024:
- Provides funding to prevent cuts in services and deal with program deficit over the next ten years.
- Fixes funding formula after FY2034 to ensure adequate funding in the future for life of program till it expires in 2090.
- Increases funding for research and data collection on 9/11 conditions.
- Makes certain technical corrections to the current statute.
Read the fact sheet here.
“Yet again, we are introducing a bill to fix a projected funding shortfall in the World Trade Center Health Program,” said Senator Gillibrand. “It’s time to fix this issue once and for all. 9/11 first responders and survivors need guaranteed health care, period. Our bill provides permanent and mandatory funding for the WTCHP so that no 9/11 hero has to worry about losing coverage year after year. This is bipartisan, bicameral legislation and I am confident we will get it passed.”
Senator Schumer said, “From the moment of the attack, brave first responders and everyday folks made a sacrifice on that day – and in the months that followed – that honored their country. As time passed, we learned that service and sacrifice had a cost. I am proud to have secured nearly $1.7 billion for the 9/11 health program in the past two years, but these heroes should not live in fear that one day the care they need might not be there. I am proud to introduce this new bill to permanently fund the 9/11 health program. It will ensure that no first responder or survivor ever goes without the care they deserve, and I will work tirelessly with members on both sides of the aisle until it becomes law.”
“There are more than 132,000 Americans enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program. That includes responders and survivors of all ages and from every state in the nation. They are suffering from more than 60 different types of cancers and a series of other chronic conditions. They are dealing with these illnesses because they were there that horrible day, or in the days that followed. It’s because they helped pull survivors from the wreckage, clear debris, and put our city back together. For that, we owe them a debt and we mean to deliver on it,” said Congressman Garbarino. “Over the last several years, we have successfully chipped away at the program’s funding shortfall – first securing $1 billion, and then an additional $676 million to keep the program afloat. With the introduction of this bill, we hope to move past the piecemeal funding solutions and fully fund 9/11 health care for all those who need it. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is not a New York issue. This is an American issue, and I urge every one of my House and Senate colleagues to remember that and support this legislation.”
“I will never forget the scenes of devastation, destruction, and heroism I witnessed while living in Lower Manhattan on September 11th,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “We owe a permanent debt of gratitude to the courageous first responders, survivors, and residents who rebuilt our City in the months and years that followed. It’s our responsibility to pass the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act in order to ensure that those suffering from medical problems arising from the attack receive the health care they need and deserve.”
“During my career as an NYPD Detective, I was proud to serve alongside scores of heroic law enforcement professionals who charged into danger on September 11th to defend the city they swore to protect, and it is vital now that this country does everything possible to support those facing healthcare complications stemming from that fateful day. I am proud to co-lead the bipartisan 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024 in order to ensure eligible Americans are able to continue receiving important healthcare via the World Trade Center Health Program and that this program remains fully funded for years to come,” said Congressman D’Esposito.
“While over twenty years have passed since the 9/11 attacks, so many of our heroic responders and survivors continue to carry with them the burden of that terrible day as they have fallen sick from the air surrounding Ground Zero,” said Congressman Nadler. “Congress must uphold the promise made to our first responders and survivors by fully funding the WTCHP to provide the injured and their families the aid they need and deserve. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024, which will address the funding shortfall to keep the program available for those who need it for years to come.”
“In 2019 I told my team of warriors to put down their swords and pick up their rakes go home and plant something with a loved one. You are all farmers now. I should have listened to my own words. I implore my Senators from NY and Congressman from Long Island to get this piece of legislation done ASAP so I can go home and grab my rake. The WTCHP is a lifeline, a heartbeat, a pulse for tens of thousands. Not taking this serious is reckless and an insult to Yesterdays heroes and survivors,” said 9/11 Advocate John Feal.
“Our City and our Nation paid a heavy price on September 11, 2001, one which my members and first responders across the U.S. continue to pay for willingly and selflessly answering the call to duty,” said NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association President Vincent Vallelong. “The courage displayed by these men and women in the response to 9/11 lifted up our nation in its hour of greatest need, and now Congress must do its duty and keep the faith with these heroes by passing the ‘9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act.’ The SBA is grateful for the leadership of Sen. Gillibrand, Sen. Braun, Leader Schumer, Rep. Garbarino, and the New York Delegation on this important legislation and ensuring that 9/11 responders and survivors will continue to get the care that they deserve.”
“Five years ago last month, my brother NYPD Det. Luis (Lou) Alvarez, in his last few days on this earth, sick from a 9/11 related Cancer, traveled to Washington D.C., like FDNY Firefighter Ray Pfeifer and so many before him, forced to come and plea for legislation that would take care of those suffering from exposures on that dreaded day in our history. Approximately two weeks later, on June 29th, 2019, we lost my brother. Today, I applaud Congressman Gabarino and Senator Gillibrand and others that are working together and trying to make sure those that those that are sick and dying from 9/11 exposures never have to make that trip again. On behalf of the Alvarez family, I offer our gratitude, never forget Lou Alvarez and our 9/11 heroes,” said 9/11 Advocate Phil Alvarez.
After years of efforts and calls on the federal government, Congress established the WTCHP on a bipartisan basis in 2011 with a five-year authorization to provide medical treatment and monitoring for 9/11 responders and survivors suffering from the effects of the toxins at Ground Zero. The program covers the lifespans of all exposed, including responders and survivors of the attack on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, the Shanksville crash site, children who were in schools in downtown Manhattan on 9/11 and during clean-up, and those who have since experienced, or are expected to experience, adverse health effects that are linked to the attacks in the coming years. The program was reauthorized in 2015 and extended through 2090 with bipartisan support. In 2022, lawmakers delivered $1 billion for the WTCHP in the end-of-year spending bill, and in 2023, they secured an additional $676 million for the program.
Unfortunately, this funding is not enough to keep pace with the anticipated costs of providing the program’s services for over 120,000 9/11 responders and survivors, who span all fifty states and 434 of the 435 congressional districts. Without additional funding, the WTCHP will have to start making cuts to services for 9/11 responders and survivors and start turning away new responders and survivors who become sick from 9/11-related conditions.