White Plains, NY – Standing at White Plains Fire Station No. 6, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was joined by New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Paul Ryan, President of the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body, John Feal, Founder of the FealGood Foundation, first responders, survivors and advocates to renew their push to pass a permanent extension of the James Zadroga 9-11 Health and Compensation Act. Two of the Zadroga bill’s critical programs – the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund – are set to expire in September 2015 and October 2016. Senator 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.
Nearly 14 years after September 11th, first responders and survivors are battling serious health conditions resulting from exposure to toxins at Ground Zero. More than 33,000 9-11 responders, as well as survivors of the attacks, including area residents, workers and children, have an illness or injury caused by the attacks or their aftermath, and over two-thirds of those have more than one illness. So far, 4,385 cancers have been found among 9-11 responders and survivors, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. Many first responders are disabled and can no longer work, and suffer from a host of chronic diseases: asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, cancer and many more, caused by exposure to toxins and carcinogens at Ground Zero.
Responders came from all over the country to aid in the response to the attacks. And some area survivors, including area residents, workers and children harmed by the disaster, have since moved and are currently receiving care in cities and states across the country. Participants enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program for treatment currently reside in all 50 states and in 429 of the 435 Congressional Districts in the country.
“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,” said Senator Gillibrand. “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.”
“I’m proud to be a cosponsor of the James Zadroga 9-11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey. “We must ensure that first responders and those who risked their lives saving others at ground zero receive the health care they deserve. Extending health care and benefits for the more than 30,000 responders and survivors who have an illness or injury caused by the attacks is simply the right thing to do. As Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue working with Senator Gillibrand and local officials to deliver the treatments our 9-11 first responders deserve.”
“With many first-responders and volunteers still struggling with the health effects from 9-11, Congress has a moral obligation to do everything possible to help those heroes,” said Congressman Eliot Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. “It is still amazing to me just how difficult it was to pass the original James Zadroga Health and Compensation Act in 2010, and it is equally stunning there are some in Congress who do not consider its reauthorization to be a priority in 2015. It is only right to take care of the men and women who put others ahead of their own health and safety. As a cosponsor of the original law and the reauthorization bill in the House, I stand with Senator Gillibrand who is valiantly leading the fight in the Senate to say the Zadroga Act must be extended and finally made permanent.”
“The Zadroga 9-11 Health and Compensation Act has provided crucial support for the brave men and women who served in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks,” said New York State Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “I was proud to lead New York State’s efforts to provide services for our first responders and I am honored to join Senator Gillibrand in calling on the federal government to continue providing essential aid to these American heroes. Senator Gillibrand understands that we owe an everlasting debt of gratitude to those who answered their nation’s call during our time of need and therefore the Zadroga Act must be made permanent.”
“Thank you Senator Gillibrand for leading the fight for medical treatment and compensation for 9-11 responders and survivors,” said James Slevin, Vice President, United Firefighters Association IAFF Local 94 and Board Member of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act.
“Anything short of permanently extending this life saving piece of legislation for 70,000 plus American’s is a failure on every level and a reflection on poor leadership in DC,” said John Feal, Founder of the FealGood Foundation. “We are confident that our Senator and our friend Kirsten Gillibrand will continue to lead the charge to ensure the fragile fraternity of those effected by 9-11 and its aftermath see our Bill, the James Zadroga Health & Compensation Act permanently extended.”
“As a first responder who was injured on September 11, 2001, I personally witnessed the bravery of all the responders who came from near and far to assist the NYPD and the FDNY,” said White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong (retired NYPD). “Many of these brave patriots spent countless hours down at ground zero doing the right thing as Americans helping and assisting in the rescue and recovery efforts. Many of these first responders have died for their patriotism and many more are suffering debilitating diseases. The extension of the Zadroga benefits makes sense and is the right thing to do. I wish to thank the Senator for her efforts and support her whole heartedly in this endeavor.”
The James Zadroga 9-11 Health and Compensation 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 9-11 attacks.
Currently, over 33,000 responders and survivors across the nation have at least one illness or injury while many have multiple 9-11 conditions and are receiving critical treatment and medical care through the WTC Health Program. Over 70,000 first responders and survivors are receiving medical monitoring. The program treats responders and survivors for many chronic diseases and respiratory illnesses, including asthma, sinusitis, obstructive pulmonary disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
The WTC Health Program continues to be a critical lifeline for many, particularly when the number of 9-11-related cancer cases among rescue workers and responders has increased over the past decade and continues to grow. Approximately 3,700 first responders have a 9-11-related cancer. Since 2012, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has added several types of cancers to the list of 9-11-related illnesses covered by the WTC Health Program. Studies show that 9-11 workers have gotten certain cancers – including prostate, thyroid, and multiple myeloma – at significantly higher rates than the general population.
Over 80 NYPD and over 100 FDNY personnel have reportedly died from their 9-11 illnesses since 9-11. More police officers have died from 9-11 related illnesses than perished on 9-11.
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), which was reopened under the Zadroga 9-11 Health and Compensation Bill, provides compensation for economic losses to 9-11 responders and survivors and their families for physical injuries as a result of involvement in Ground Zero, including breathing in toxins. Since 2013, the VCF has deemed 5,636 injured 9-11 individuals eligible for compensation.
Numerous studies have documented the health effects of the WTC attacks, which include lower and upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and mental health conditions. These illnesses have caused major financial strains on many of those exposed who are subsequently no longer able to work and would be forced to pay the high price of health care without this federally-funded national program.
The new James Zadroga 9-11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act would:
Continue the World Trade Center (WTC) 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 (VCF). Under the bill the fund, which is scheduled to close on October 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. To date, the Fund has determined 11,770 claimants eligible and has made compensation decisions for 5,636 injured and ill 9-11 responders and survivors for $1.3 billion dollars in compensation. More are expected in the coming years due to the delayed onset of cancer from 9-11 exposure. But without legislation and sufficient funding, 9-11 injured responders will face having their compensation reduced by perhaps 50 percent and those who are diagnosed with cancer in future years would have NO compensation.
Make the programs permanent. Many of the responders and survivors have chronic WTC-related illnesses requiring long-term care. Some will have delayed onset of illnesses, especially cancers, due to 9-11 exposures. They will continue to need medical care and compensation. Making the programs permanent would be similar to legislation that was enacted providing medical and compensation benefits for workers at our nuclear facilities.
Continue to New York City’s Cost Share. The City of New York would continue to contribute a 10 percent matching cost share of the total costs of the World Trade Center Health Program.
Continue to Research New Conditions. The legislation would continue research in diagnosing and treating WTC-related illnesses.
The current WTC Health Program and the reopened September 11th Victim Compensation Fund expire during the 114th Congress. If the legislation is not extended, these vital programs will end.
Led by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), the James Zadroga 9-11 Health and Compensation Act currently has 27 bipartisan cosponsors, including Sen Baldwin, Sen Bennet, Sen Blumenthal, Sen Booker, Sen Brown, Sen Casey, Sen Collins, Sen Coons, Sen Cotton, Sen Durbin, Sen Franken, Sen Hirono, Sen King, Sen Kirk, Sen Klobuchar, Sen Markey, Sen Menendez, Sen Mikulski, Sen Murkowski, Sen Murphy, Sen Sanders, Sen Schatz, Sen Schumer, Sen Shaheen, Sen Tester, Sen Warren, Sen Whitehouse. Led by Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Peter King (R-NY), Lee Zeldin (R-NY), and Dan Donovan, the companion legislation in the House of Representatives has 114 co-sponsors.