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For Immediate
Release: July 3, 2008 Bush Admin. Sacks 9/11 Health Czar Rep. Maloney: Dr. Howard Fired Just For Doing His Job New York, NY – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) released the following statement in response to reports that Dr. John Howard will not be reappointed as Director of the National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health, the agency responsible for overseeing federally-funded health care for 9/11 first responders and others exposed to Ground Zero toxins: “It appears that the Bush Administration fired Dr. Howard just for doing his job caring for Americans who are suffering as a result of 9/11. It’s outrageous that the administration would treat the heroes of 9/11 so poorly on the day before our nation celebrates its independence.” Background In February 2006, Reps. Maloney and Vito Fossella (R-NY) successfully urged the Bush Administration to appoint Dr. Howard to serve as the federal government's coordinator to oversee the response to Ground Zero health impacts (Click here for a copy of HHS' letter to Rep. Maloney announcing Dr. Howard's appointment). Joe Soldevere
For Immediate Release: June 2, 2008 Contact:
Joe Soldevere (Maloney), 212-860-0606 GAO: Feds Still Lack Coordinated Plan to Protect Disaster Responders - 6+ Years After Attacks, Lessons of 9/11 Not Learned by Bush Admin. - Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Vito Fossella (R-NY), and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) released a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealing that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) lacks a coordinated, department-wide plan to protect the health and safety of Americans who respond to public health disasters. In its report (click here for a full copy), the GAO identified five key lessons from the federal response to the 9/11 attacks that should help guide future disaster response efforts. A summary of the GAO's five lessons can be found below. Maloney, Nadler, and Fossella authored and Shays co-sponsored the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which would provide health care to the thousands of Americans who were sickened or injured by the toxic aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. "If the federal government had a coordinated plan on 9/11 to protect disaster responders thousands of people wouldn't be sick today," said Rep. Maloney. "With seventh anniversary of the attacks fast approaching, it's totally unacceptable that we don't have plans to take care of ailing 9/11 responders and to protect the health of responders to future disasters." "The response to September 11th-related health concerns has lacked coordination and a sense of urgency, and I believe federal, state and local health systems have to more accurately diagnose and treat these illnesses," said Rep. Shays. "Much work needs to be done to ensure those affected receive the care they deserve, and I hope the administration will fulfill its commitment to those exposed to the toxins from September 11, 2001, and in the resulting cleanup." Rep. Fossella said, "These recommendations provide a guide for the federal government to follow in the future to protect the health and well-being of first responders. But these recommendations also highlight the lack of adequate services that are available right now for sick and injured 9/11 responders. While it is important for the government to use the lessons of 9/11 to be better prepared to manage potential health issues of responders in the future, federal officials must stop delaying efforts to help the unsung heroes of 9/11." "Yet again, the Bush Administration has failed to learn from its mistakes," said Rep. Nadler. "In the aftermath of 9/11, it became clear that the government lacked a comprehensive public health plan to protect the brave responders who came to the World Trade Center to help. This lapse in leadership led to thousands of people from all over the nation becoming sick. Not only has the White House failed to fully provide for their needs, its ongoing failure to develop plans for future disaster response efforts is outrageous and extremely dangerous." Responding to a request from Reps. Maloney, Shays, and Fossella, the GAO identified the following five lessons from the experience of current World Trade Center health programs that could help in the event of a future disaster: 1) Registering all responders during a response to a disaster could improve implementation of screening and monitoring services; 2) Designing and implementing screening and monitoring programs that foster the ability to conduct epidemiologic research could improve the understanding of health effects experienced by responders and help determine the need for ongoing monitoring; 3) Providing timely mental health screening and monitoring that is integrated with physical health screening and monitoring could improve the ability to accurately diagnose physical and mental health conditions and prevent more serious mental health conditions from developing; 4) Including a treatment referral process in screening and monitoring programs could improve the ability of responders to gain access to needed treatment; and 5) Making comparable services available to all responders, regardless of their employer or geographic location, could ensure that more equitable access to services for responders and help ensure that data collected about responders' health is consistent and comprehensive. Previous GAO Reports on 9/11 Health 03/11/08 - September 11: Fiscal Year 2008 Cost Estimation Process for World Trade Center Health Programs
09/08/04 - September 11: Health Effects in the Aftermath of the World Trade Center Attack Joe Soldevere
For Immediate Release: May 20, 2008 Contact:
Joe Soldevere (Maloney), 212-860-0606 Mount Sinai: 9/11 Heroes Have PTSD at Rates Much Higher than the General Population -Senator Clinton, Reps. Maloney, Nadler, Fossella & Towns Say New Study Shows Continued Need for Strong Federal Response to WTC Health Crisis- New York, NY - Today, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Vito Fossella, and Edolphus Towns said that a new study by Mount Sinai School of Medicine showing high rates of psychological distress among World Trade Center responders underscores the need for a strong federal response to the health impacts of the 9/11 attacks. Of the more than 10,000 workers who participated in the Mount Sinai study (click here for a full copy of the report), 11% met criteria for probable Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); 8.8% had probable depression; 5.0% had probable panic disorder; and 62% had substantial stress reaction. According to Mount Sinai, the rate of PTSD among 9/11 responders is significantly greater than in the general population and is on par with the rate experienced by veterans of the war in Afghanistan. "Mount Sinai's report once again proves what we have known for a long time - that our heroes from 9/11 continue to have ongoing mental and physical health needs that need to be addressed. While the physical toll on our first responders is easy to recognize, the mental stress that many of them are suffering can hide easily in plain sight. Our first responders and their families continue to suffer and it is our moral obligation to help them. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that those impacted by 9/11 have the care and treatment they need," Senator Clinton said. "9/11 responders were the first veterans of the war on terror and the psychological trauma they experienced is real and ongoing," said Rep. Maloney. "Mount Sinai's report is even more evidence that administration needs to finally deliver a plan to ensure that 9/11 responders can get the mental and physical health care they need. It's been more than six years since the attacks and while it can never be too late to help the heroes of 9/11, the time for this president to take action is now." "We now have the science to back up what we have long known - much more needs to be done to help those brave first responders who are still suffering the physical and psychological consequences of 9/11," said Rep. Nadler. "They put their lives in danger to help us in our time of need. The federal government has a moral imperative to provide the living victims of 9/11 with the care they need and deserve." "We know the enormous physical toll of 9/11 on our first responders, but this report provides insight into the mental stress the terrorist attacks had on our unsung heroes," said Rep. Fossella. "This report serves as a wake up call that the federal government must stop delaying and finally provide the 9/11 responders with the care they need." "This study confirms what New Yorkers already know -- the effects of 9/11 persist more than six years later," said Rep. Towns. "The heroes of 9/11 need treatment for mental health symptoms as well as physical health issues. We'll continue the fight to provide the quality health care these heroes deserve." ### Joe Soldevere
For Immediate Release: May 9, 2008 Contacts:
Joe Soldevere (Maloney), 212-860-0606 Bush Admin. Flouts Congressional Directives to Help Americans Sick From 9/11 Washington, D.C. - Today, 10 bipartisan New York Members of Congress sharply rebuked a new report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the status of the federal government's response to the health impacts of the 9/11 attacks. HHS's report (click here for a full copy), which was requested by Congress in the FY 2008 federal Labor-HHS appropriations bill, revealed that the Bush Administration has no plans to spend congressionally-approved funding to treat and monitor lower Manhattan residents, area workers, students and others who were exposed to the toxic aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. In addition, HHS failed to provide, again as requested by Congress, a "long-term, comprehensive federal plan for monitoring, screening, analysis and medical treatment for all individuals who were exposed to the toxins at the World Trade Center site." Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Vito Fossella, Edolphus Towns, Eliot Engel, Charles Rangel, Gary Ackerman, Yvette Clarke, Nydia Velázquez, Steve Israel, and Anthony Weiner issued the following joint statement in response to HHS's report: "We have a moral responsibility to help those whose lives were shattered by the terrorist attacks on our country. It was bad enough that the Administration fought our efforts to care for Americans who are sick from 9/11. Now they're ignoring Congressional orders to provide a comprehensive, long-term plan. "Last year, Congress approved funding to treat and monitor area residents, workers, students and others who were exposed to Ground Zero toxins. All the administration needs to do is start spending this money, but as usual they're dragging their feet. Today, we're calling on the administration to get this money flowing and finally come up with a serious plan to address the 9/11 health crisis." The lawmakers also expressed their concerns in a letter dated today to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, the text of which follows:
May 9, 2008 The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt
Dear Secretary Leavitt,
We write to express our extreme dissatisfaction with your April 2008 report to Congress entitled "Providing Monitoring and Treatment Services for those Experiencing Injuries or Illness as a Result of the World Trade Center Exposures." As you know, this report is in response to the House Appropriations committee's request for a "long-term, comprehensive Federal plan for monitoring, screening, analysis and medical treatment for all individuals who were exposed to the toxins at the World Trade Center site," contained in the Committee's report on the FY 2008 budget for the Department on Health and Human Services. This report is simply not acceptable. It ignores both Congress' directions and the needs of those who are sick as a result of the WTC attacks. First, the report takes credit for a list of accomplishments that the Department undertook only at the direction of Congress, even though the Administration opposed each step along the way. None of the advances in screening, monitoring, or treating responders were the initiatives of HHS, but rather showed HHS implementing these programs only in response to Congressional actions. Despite repeated requests by Congress, HHS has never produced a long term plan to address the medical needs of the responders, community residents, and students. The current report is only a one year plan, not the long term plan that we requested and need. Testimony at the most recent Appropriations Committee Hearing on the WTC medical programs documented the need for a long term plan and stable long term funding if these programs are going to adequately serve the medical needs of the responders and other groups. Second, HHS continues what we believe are unconscionable stall tactics regarding care for residents, area workers, students, and others who have become sick from the attacks. On page 8 of this report under the heading "WTC Screening and Treatment Costs for Non-Responders," you state "At the time of this report to Congress, ... HHS is engaged in discussions and information-gathering to determine the extent of the need. As data becomes available, HHS will consider options for providing assistance and estimating costs. Within the resources appropriated in FY 2008, funds will be expended to support data gathering and further analysis." Public Law No. 110-161 specifically says that this funding shall be for "screening and treatment." In the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, Congress, for the first time, provided funding for the monitoring and treatment of residents, area workers, students, and others who were exposed to the toxins of 9/11. Published, peer-reviewed studies have already reported adverse respiratory and mental health effects in this population, and the City of New York is currently spending millions of dollars to serve these individuals at a community program already in place at NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation's WTC Environmental Health Center. To date, no federal funding for these populations has been released, and this report appears to indicate that no funding will be released in FY 2008. This is unacceptable. We ask that you immediately release funding for non-responders, as required by Congress. Third, this report is not a plan to move forward but rather a wait-and-see account of what HHS has done in the past. If the heroes and heroines of 9/11 had taken a similar wait-and-see approach to their rescue, recovery and clean-up work at Ground Zero, we would have been in dire straits. More than six years later, our brave responders are suffering as a result of their heroism, while HHS says they need no more funding and no legislation to care for their health and compensation needs. Sick residents, area workers, students, and others have simply been ignored. Finally, we are disappointed that you have not been available to discuss these WTC health issues with the New York delegation. You declined an invitation to appear at a January 2008 hearing of the Oversight Subcommittee on Government Management, and did not even send a representative from HHS to appear on your behalf. You agreed to meet with the New York delegation at a February 2008 budget hearing before the Energy and Commerce Committee. However, after multiple attempts by Congressman Engel's office to schedule the meeting, we still find ourselves left without a time and date to meet with you, as you promised. We hope this will be the last time we must follow up on scheduling this meeting. We expect to hear from you soon. Sincerely, CAROLYN B. MALONEY
Joe Soldevere
For Immediate Release: May 6, 2008 Contact:
Joe Soldevere (Maloney), (212) 860-0606 100 Members of Congress and Counting Are Standing Up for the Heroes of 9/11 Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Vito Fossella (R-NY) issued the following joint statement announcing the 100th cosponsor of their bipartisan legislation to provide health care, medical monitoring, and compensation for Americans who are sick or injured as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks: "Today, we are pleased to announce the 100th cosponsor of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. We believe that it is a moral imperative to provide care for the first responders, area residents, schoolchildren and others who are sick as a result of the 9/11 attacks. We are grateful that Members of Congress from every corner of our nation have signed on to this bipartisan and truly patriotic legislation." This week, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) became the 100th cosponsor of H.R. 3543, the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which would ensure medical monitoring for everyone who was exposed to toxins released by the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, treatment for anyone who is sick as a result, and would provide compensation for economic losses by reopening the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Under this bill, proper care would be guaranteed to the thousands of people who came from across the country to respond to the 9/11 attacks. According to the federally-funded World Trade Center Health Registry, people from all 50 states and nearly every Congressional district in the country were in lower Manhattan on or after 9/11 and now have serious concerns about their health. In all, more than 10,000 people enrolled in the Registry live outside the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. (Click here for a map of Registry enrollments nationwide and here for a list of enrollments in each Congressional district.) Background The collapse of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 released a massive dust cloud containing thousands of tons of coarse and fine particulate matter, cement dust, glass fibers, asbestos, lead, hydrochloric acid, and other toxic pollutants. Hundreds of thousands of people were exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero, including first responders; rescue, recovery, and clean-up workers; volunteers from all 50 states; and area residents, office workers, and schoolchildren. Thousands of people are now sick as a result of their exposure.
Summary of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act In general, the bill would: * Ensure that everyone exposed to the Ground Zero toxins has a right to be medically monitored and all who are sick as a result have a right to treatment; * Expand care to the entire exposed community, which includes residents, area workers and school children as well as the thousands of people from across the country who assisted with the recovery and clean-up effort; and * Provide compensation for economic damages by reopening the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Specifically, the bill would: Establish the World Trade Center Health Program within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to provide medical monitoring and treatment for WTC-related conditions to WTC Responders and WTC-area residents and other non-responders, with no cost sharing. The program will be administered by the Director of NIOSH or his designee. The bill would also establish the WTC Health Program Steering Committee and the WTC Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee. Provide Monitoring and Treatment for WTC Responders. If a responder is determined to be eligible for monitoring based on the criteria provided for in the bill, then that responder has a right to medical monitoring that is paid for by the program. Once a responder is in monitoring, if an approved physician diagnoses a condition that is on the list of presumed WTC-related health conditions in the bill, then that responder has a right to treatment for that condition that is paid for by the program. Provide Monitoring and Treatment for WTC Responders outside of NY area. The program administrator will establish a nationwide network of providers so that eligible responders who live outside of the New York area can reasonable access monitoring and treatment benefits near where they live. Provide for Research into Conditions. In consultation with the Program Steering Committee and under all applicable privacy protections, HHS will conduct or support research about conditions that may be WTC-related, and about diagnosing and treating WTC-related conditions. Extend support for NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene programs: NIOSH would extend and expand support for the World Trade Center Health Registry and provide grants for the mental health needs of individuals who are not otherwise eligible for services under this bill. Reopen the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund to provide compensation for economic damages and loss for individuals who did not file before or became ill after the original December 22, 2003 deadline. The bill would allow for adjustment of previous awards if the Special Master of the fund determines the medical conditions of the claimant warrants an adjustment, and amend eligibility rules so that responders to the 9/11 attacks who arrived later than the first 96 hours after the attacks could be eligible if they experienced illness or injury from their work at the site. ### Joe Soldevere
For Immediate Release: March 18, 2008 Contacts:
Joe Soldevere (Maloney), 212-860-0606 CDC Takes Measures to Address 9/11 Health Concerns -Sens. Schumer and Clinton, Reps. Maloney, Nadler, Fossella Applaud Decision To Begin Process to Provide Thousands of Responders Outside Metro NY With Proper Care- New York, NY - Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it will issue a solicitation for sources to provide federally-funded medical monitoring and treatment to thousands of 9/11 responders who live outside metropolitan New York City. (Click here for a copy of the CDC's announcement.) In December, the Administration suddenly announced that it had abandoned plans to create such a program. At the time, the CDC expressed concerns over the availability of continued funding, even though Congress was in the process of approving another $108 million for 9/11 health care. According to the federally-funded World Trade Center Health Registry, people from all 50 states and 431 of 435 Congressional districts nationwide were in lower Manhattan on or after 9/11 and now have serious concerns about their health. In all, more than 10,000 of the 71,000 people enrolled in the Registry live outside the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, and Vito Fossella, who for months have urged the Administration to restart the program, hailed today's announcement. "Though the scars of September 11th are still visible in lower Manhattan, the reach of that attack extends across the country, where thousands of first responders who live outside of the New York metropolitan area need medical assistance for conditions stemming from their service," Schumer said. "From Buffalo to Birmingham, and Syracuse to San Diego, we must ensure that these brave men and women receive the care they need and deserve." "Today's announcement is long overdue, and represents the first step in the process of working to secure federally funded treatment and monitoring for those responders outside of the New York City area," said Senator Clinton. "We welcomed the assistance of thousands from around the country in our hour of need, and it is imperative that the federal government now assist those who are experiencing adverse health outcomes in their hour of need." "It's good news that the Administration is finally taking action to help thousands of ailing 9/11 responders who live outside the tri-state area," said Rep. Maloney. "The national 9/11 health program should never have been interrupted in the first place, but it can never be too late to help the heroes of 9/11. In the months ahead, we will be working to make sure that the national program and the clinics here in the New York area get the funding they need to provide care for everyone whose health was compromised by the 9/11 attacks." "In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, America stood with New York, and many came and put their own lives and health at risk by aiding in the rescue and recovery efforts," said Rep. Nadler. "Now, many of those brave responders are sick, and they need our help. The Bush Administration has already lost valuable time by delaying the start of the nationwide program. I am encouraged that they have restarted the process, and I hope they will award a contract soon. While we can never repay the debt we owe to the brave 9/11 first responders - wherever they are from - we must do all that we can to help them." Fossella said, "This is good news for the thousands of men and women who relied on these programs for monitoring and treatment. It made no sense to eliminate these programs and leave our unsung heroes without access to the care they need. We worked across party lines to make a compelling case for the continuation of these programs, and I am pleased that the Administration agreed to continue funding them." In its announcement, the CDC noted that its request "represents an unusual and compelling urgency from the Government." Indeed, existing funding for treatment programs outside metro New York, primarily provide by charitable donations from the American Red Cross, are expected to end in the next few months. The CDC is encouraging interested firms to respond to today's announcement by April 2nd. The CDC's announcement states that "there is currently a program in place to provide periodic health assessment examinations, diagnosis, and treatment to the responders in the New York City (NYC) area. CDC intends to award a one year contract to provide comparable services to those responders outside of the NYC area. As the program grows in the next year, the number of responders outside of the NYC area could increase to 6,000 members from its current level of approximately 4,000 members." Background President Bush's budget proposal for this year (FY 2009) includes a 77% funding cut for 9/11 health care programs, from $108 million appropriated for FY '08 to $25 million for FY '09. On January 23rd, NY and NJ delegation members sent a letter to President Bush asking him to ensure that 9/11 health clinics, with programs that are estimated to cost more than $200 million this year alone, are fully funded in his FY '09 budget. The president's budget last year (FY 2008) had also included only $25 million for 9/11 health programs. Members of Congress from New York and New Jersey fought to exceed the president's FY '08 request and ultimately delivered $108 million in the regular federal budget for sick and injured 9/11 responders and area residents, workers and students, plus another $50 million for 9/11 health in an emergency spending bill. For Immediate Release: March 12, 2008 Contacts: Joe
Soldevere (Maloney), 212-860-0606 GAO: NIOSH's 9/11-Health Cost Estimates "Improved" Since Last Year -NIOSH Says that 9/11 Health Progs. Will Cost $218.5 Million in FY 2008, But Admin. Provides Only $25 Million in Budget- Washington, D.C. - Today, Senators Charles Schumer, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez and Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, and Vito Fossella released a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report concluding that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) had improved the cost estimation process for World Trade Center health programs over the last year. NIOSH estimates that the total cost for 9/11-related health care and medical monitoring programs in FY 2008 will be $218.5 million, compared with the agency's cost estimate for FY 2007 of $230 to $283 million. The GAO report (click here for a full copy) says that NIOSH's cost estimates for this fiscal year are improved because they are based in large part on the average actual costs of screening and monitoring exams conducted in FY 2007. The Senators and Representatives issued the following joint statement on the report: "NIOSH appears to have solid cost estimates for 9/11 health care, but the Administration is still falling far short when it comes to delivering care to everyone exposed to Ground Zero toxins, in New York, New Jersey, and nationwide. We learned last month that the President is proposing only $25 million for 9/11 health programs this year. It's time for the Administration to finally take the steps necessary to provide treatment and monitoring to everyone whose health was compromised by the 9/11 attacks." Background President Bush's budget proposal for this year (FY 2009) includes a 77% funding cut for 9/11 health care programs, from $108 million appropriated for FY '08 to $25 million for FY '09. On January 23rd, NY and NJ delegation members sent a letter to President Bush asking him to ensure that 9/11 health clinics, with programs that are estimated to cost more than $200 million this year alone, are fully funded in his FY '09 budget. On January 27th, a White House spokesman told the AP that the president's budget "will reflect his continued commitment to World Trade Center workers." The president's budget last year (FY 2008) had also included only $25 million for 9/11 health programs --even though the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimated that the programs would need more than $200 million to cover their operating costs for that year, as well. At the time the President's FY '08 budget was released, the Office of Management and Budget told Members of Congress that, if needed, additional 9/11 health funding would be added to the FY '08 budget. However, the President made no further funding requests that year. Members of Congress from New York and New Jersey fought to exceed the president's FY '08 request and ultimately delivered $108 million in the regular federal budget for sick and injured 9/11 responders and area residents, workers and students, plus another $50 million for 9/11 health in an emergency spending bill, for a total of $158 million. Weeks before Christmas, the administration suddenly announced that it had abandoned plans to create the World Trade Center Business Processing Center, the first federally-funded national program to provide treatment for sick 9/11 responders and others who reside outside the New York metropolitan area. At the time, the administration claimed that the proposed Business Processing Center wasn't properly funded, but within days of the administration's announcement, Congress appropriated another $108 million for 9/11 health care. ### Joe Soldevere NYers Blast Admin. Foot-Dragging on 9/11 Health -Senators, Representatives Decry Delays as Health Care for Thousands of 9/11 Heroes Nationwide Set to Run Out- New York, NY – Today, Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Vito Fossella (R-NY) and Edolphus Towns (D-NY) demanded that the Administration provide answers within seven days about how it plans to provide care to thousands of Americans who are sick as a result of the 9/11 attacks. In a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Leavitt, the Senators and Reps. said that HHS officials have not adequately responded to growing concerns that health programs for 9/11 responders and others outside the NYC metro area could be halted within weeks. Limited 9/11 health treatment programs outside the NYC area are currently funded by the American Red Cross, which has said that its funding for such programs is running out. The New Yorkers noted that nearly two months have passed since the Administration canceled a request for proposals (RFP) to start the World Trade Center Business Processing Center, which would have been the hub of a national 9/11 health program. The letter states that if the Administration “does not take some action... in the next few weeks, there will not be time to announce and process a new RFP in time to keep the program running. Failure to fund treatment - even for a few weeks - is likely to deprive thousands of responders living outside of the New York City metropolitan area of badly needed medical care.” HHS refused to send a representative to a House field hearing last month on the Administration’s cancellation of the RFP. “Some of the brave people who came from across our nation to aid New York following the terrorist attacks of September 11th became victims themselves after being exposed to the toxic substances at Ground Zero and Fresh Kills. Instead of acting quickly to provide a means to treat those who are suffering, the Administration has responded by canceling solicitations for contracts that would establish a critical program to manage the care of those responders who live outside of New York, and throughout the country. As a Senator from New York, I am grateful for the compassion and dedication these heroes showed our city and its people, and we cannot afford any delay in providing the care and attention they so urgently need,” said Senator Clinton. “The clock is running out on health care programs for thousands of 9/11 heroes,” said Rep. Maloney. “We want the Administration to deliver a nationwide 9/11 health program, not more empty promises. Our patience with the Administration’s non-response responses ran out a long time ago. Secretary Leavitt needs to finally tell the thousands of Americans who are sick from 9/11 exactly how he plans to meet their health care needs.” “When the smoke was still rising at Ground Zero, concerned and dedicated Americans from across the country came to aid in the rescue and recovery effort,” said Rep. Nadler. “In doing so, they selflessly put their own health at risk. Now, the Bush Administration has the chance and obligation to help provide for these compassionate people. The World Trade Center Business Processing Center is critical in efforts to provide health care to the thousands of people across the country whose health was affected by 9/11. This country must meet its moral obligation to the living victims of 9/11 and we must move forward with this program.” Rep. Fossella said, “The news that HHS pulled the plug on the World Trade Center National Business Center marked a sad chapter in our efforts to secure a full federal commitment to those people who are sick as a result of their work on 9/11. The federal government has still not told us what the alternative will be or the level of its commitment to these unsung heroes. It makes no sense that at a time when more centralized data on sick 9/11 workers nationwide is needed, HHS refuses to move forward with this important initiative. My colleagues and I will continue to fight for those who have become sick as a direct result of working at ground zero, regardless of where they live.” “The refusal of HHS to plan for health care for 9/11 heroes is inexcusable. They seem to think that the issue will just go away. If HHS had sent a representative to our hearing in January, they would have heard from 9/11 responders whose health and financial problems keep getting worse and worse. The challenges these heroes are facing aren't going away, and we in Congress won't go away until they are taken care of,” said Rep. Towns. Joe Soldevere
Statement of Deputy
Chief Jim Riches, FDNY
GIULIANI CAMPAIGN REFUSES TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT 9/11
AND ATTACKS 9/11 FAMILIES WITH
SLANDEROUS STATEMENTS
Contact:
Dep.Chief Jim Riches 917-692-1199
The 9/11 families and firefighters
traveled to New Hampshire and Florida to set the
record straight on Rudy's failures before,during
and after 9/11. We were seen
in newspapers, local radio, and Television news
shows. At every turn, Rudy's paid
surrogates, under his direction attacked us with
vicious and hateful accusations. They made some
statements about 9/11 which were in direct
contrast to all investigations of 9/11,(the
9/11 Commission, NIST and McKinsey reports.)
Since 9/11/01, Giuliani and his cronies have
done nothing except politicize and profit
handsomely from the worst day in US history, a
national tragedy.
THE MUD SLINGING INSULTS:
1. Howard Safir said "Chief Riches
and his group denigrated the heroism of all the
heroic firefighters and police officers who died
on 9/11.- It is unconscionable that families
are politicizing 9/11."
2. It is a disgrace that the 9/11
families are politicizing 9/11!!! - Joe Lhota
UNTRUE STATEMENTS BY THE RUDY
GIULIANI CAMPAIGN:
1. The radios worked on 9/11.
2. Required respirators were
distributed.
3. We are a front group for the
Democratic unions. UFA and UFOA both had backed
Bush and Giuliani. I voted for Bush and three
times for Giuliani.
Rudy, your quest for the presidency
was rejected by America. You tried to stop the
9/11 commission from being formed. Now , lets's
set the record straight about 9/11 for all to
see. History deserves to be recorded correctly.
RUDY GIULIANI MUST ANSWER OUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS FAILURES OF 9/11 !!!
Rudy, stop the name calling and
other excuses and answer our questions.
Don't tell us : the terrorists are
responsible- we are Democrats- we are angry- It
was greatest rescue effort ever- it is a union
conspiracy- or that we are unpatriotic to
question Rudy about 9/11 failures.
America and the 9/11 families deserve
answers to these questions:
1. Why did firefighters have precisely
the same radios in 2001 which had also failed in
1993?? Why weren't they interoperable
(agencies would be able to communicate with each
other). Ignored Chief of Dept FDNY, Anthony
Fusco's recommendations of 1993 WTC attacks
about communication failures.
**** " Preponderance of evidence indicates
emergency responders lives lost at WTC on
9/11 resulted from lack of timely
information sharing and inadequate
communication capabilities." National
Institute of Standards and Technology. Go to
the videotape of 9/11/01 of French
filmmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet and there
is no communication from units that proceed
up the stairs to the Lobby Command Post in
the North Tower. The chiefs receive no
response from units. Also you have said
technology for interoperable radios (PD-FD)
was impossible, yet 70% of 192 major cities
had interoperable radios.
2. Why did your administration buy
untested Digital Radios with no bid contract
with politically connected company,Motorola
which failed in 1 week of use in early 2001??
*** Someone decided to buy 3,818
individually higher priced, digital radios,
without any competitive bidding, radios
that had never been field tested. see
"Radio Silence FDNY" page 178
3. Why were there no COORDINATED,HANDS
ON and COMPREHENSIVE interagency drills at WTC
similar to 1993 attack as was recommended in
1993 recommendations of Chief Fusco,FDNY Chief
of Dept??
*** Pd and FD operated autonomously and were
not comprehensively prepared to coordinate
efforts. Information that was critical to
informed decision making was not shared
among agencies.- 9/11 commission
4. Why were 911 dispatchers telling
people in towers to Remain in Place ?
(FD command called for self evacuation of both
towers at 8:57 AM. Dispatchers also said to go
to roof (No roof Rescue would be attempted
) right up until the collapse of both towers?
Self evacuation also recommended in 1993 by
Chief Fusco
*** On 9/11 at 9:20 AM Giuliani arrived at
FDNY Command Post and spoke to Chief of
Dept. Pete Ganci.Ganci told Rudy ,"The
message has to be" Get in a stairway and
come down. DO NOT STAY there."the mayor
recalled Ganci saying, Of course, the
emergency operators NEVER stopped giving
precisely the opposite advice." Grand
Ilusion" pg 340- I guess Rudy forgot to
relay this critical information to 911
dispatchers.
5 What happened to Office of
Emergency Management,the hallmark of your
tenure, on 9/11?? Totally useless and
invisible on 9/11, with no hi rise plan????
***.It is a startling and undisputed fact
that OEM failed to fully establish the most
basic aspect of emergency
response:determining who was in charge. NY
Times by Al Baker.
6 Why did you have unqualified
commissioners in PD,FD, and OEM on 9/11??
***TomVon Essen,Firefighter, lowest rank in
Dept. ,never passed promotional exam
Bernard Kerik, Chauffeur/Detective, 8
years in PD, lacked college degree required
by PD Lieutenants, known criminal ties,never
passed promotional exam and then recommended
to Head of Homeland Security(very poor
judgement)
Richie Sheirer, ex Fire Dept dispatcher,
political crony who had dispatchers union
endorse Rudy Giuliani in his mayoral
campaign.
7 Why did you place Emergency Command
Center at 7WTC, "Walking distance from
City hall -next to prime terrorist target and
threat by terrorists of their return." ?????
*** Jerry Hauer, ex head of OEM, recommended
Brooklyn as Command Center location,but Rudy
insisted that it be within walking distance
of City Hall. Hauer has written
documentation and said it was Rudy's
decision. Aggainst the advice of CIA,FBI,PD
and FD
8 Why did you place inexperienced
city agency,Dept of Design and Construction, in
charge of WTC removal effort???
***Mike Burton,DDC employee,supervised the
cleanup and demolition at WTC,testified
that" ultimately the mayor gets the
responsibility for what happened down
there." also,"everything was coordinated
through Burton's boss,Holden,the deputy
mayors and the mayor himself." Grand
Illusion-p257
9) Why the lies about the quality of
air at WTC?? Dept of Environmental
Protection,city agency, in late Sept 2001 tests
showed high levels of asbestos??
*** City agencies,Dept of Health (test
interior of buildings) and dept of
Environmental Protectiontion (exterior) had
tests showing high levels of asbestos.Rudy
,you should have erred on the side of
caution and safety. Everyone behaved as if
eliminating tons of dust from office towers
that contained tons of asbestos,lead and
other toxic materials was just another
janitorial function. David Newman,
industrial hygienist called it the "Wild
West " out there. Congressman Nadler said
"The Giuliani administration did nothing but
put wrong information on their website and
welcomed people to take action that would
cause premature death."
The city's test results were concealed from
the public, according to the New York
Environmental Law and Justice Project,which
obtained the unreleased numbers from the
state and posted them in 2004. No warnings
were issued despite the hazardous levels of
asbestos up to 7 blocks away from Ground
Zero.
10 Why no proper face fitted
respirators until November 2001?
Mandatory proper respirators were in use at
the Pentagon.
11 Why no unified command at WTC as
was the case at the Pentagon?
*** "The failure to require proper
health and safety gear at the site was
inexcusable and the result will almost
certainly be unnecessary disease and
death," said Dr. Phillip Landrigan of
Mount Sinai Hospital. Better protective
gear for extended hazardous exposure
operations had been one of the 1993 WTC
recommendations of Chief
Fusco,FDNY.Giuliani administration
ignored those recommendations.
The Law Department said in memo to
Deputy Mayor Robert Harding that rescue
workers had been provided with faulty or
no equipment(ie.respirators) and that
Ground Zero was "UNSAFE WORKPLACE" under
various federal safety and labor laws.
Giuliani wrote Congress on Nov 1 ,2001
to include injured first responders in
Victim Comp. fund and limit city
liability to $350 million. Grand
Illusion p 259
***"Lack of unified command at WTC
dramatically impacted the loss of first
responders lives on 9/11" were the words of
Ed Plaugher, Chief of Arlington County FD
and incident Commander at Pentagon on 9/11
before the 9/11 Commission in testimony at
New York public hearings.
12. Why are there still human remains
of 9/11 heroes still in Staten Island Fresh
Kills GARBAGE dump?
*** The families presently have lawsuit to
remove the human remains from Garbage Dump
in Staten Island to a proper and decent
tomb.
13. Why did you say that you were at
WTC as much as First Responders when you were at
Yankee Stadium more in a three month period of
2001??
*** Rudy , The NY Times has documented your
time at Ground Zero (Tours around perimeter
of WTC site) and your front row seats at
Yankee Stadium baseball games. 33 hours at
Yankee Stadium and 29 hours at WTC. Are you
delusional? First responders worked 12 hour
days and 7 days a week.
14. Rudy, why did you and all your
future millionaire,incompetent commissioners
run from WTC 30 minutes BEFORE any Tower had
fallen to the safety of 75 Barkley
St. which suffered no structural damage to
the interior or exterior of building?? Did
you hear that another plane was in the air
and left??
Rudy, the 9/11 families and all of
America are waiting for you to step up to the
plate and answer the questions. We will
not go away as we are the voices of our sons and
loved ones. Stop the mudslinging and excuses and
ANSWER the QUESTIONS !!!! Let history be
recorded correctly. The heroes stayed and died
on 9/11.
Deputy Chief Jim
Riches FDNY 917-692-1199
February 4, 2008
September 11th Advocates
It is apparent that Dr. Zelikow should never have been permitted to be Executive Staff Director of the Commission. As Executive Staff Director, his job has been to steer the direction of the Commissions investigation, an investigation whose mandate includes understanding why the Bush Administration failed to prioritize the Al Qaeda threat. In the same statement we also called for: Zelikows immediate resignation; Zelikows testimony in public and under oath; and the subpoena of Zelikow's notes from the intelligence briefings he attended with Richard Clarke. Commission Chairman Tom Kean and Vice-Chair Lee Hamilton instead chose to have Mr. Zelikow recuse himself from the areas of the investigation that dealt with the transition period. However, they allowed Mr. Zelikow to be one of only two people (Ms. Gorelick was the other) to review the Presidential Daily Briefings (PDBs), reports that went to the heart of what the White House and its National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice, knew prior to 9/11. While investigating the events that led up to the September 11th attacks, Philip Zelikow was called as a witness by the 9/11 Commission though transcripts of his testimony were never made public. Despite our vehement objections, Mr. Zelikow was allowed to remain in his position as what seemed to be the gatekeeper of the 9/11 Commission. Mr. Shenons book illustrates just how deeply and insidiously the Commission's basic fact-finding work was compromised by Zelikows conflicts. He recounts that even after his recusal, Mr. Zelikow continued to insert himself into the work of "Team 3," of the Commission. This team was responsible for examining the White House, and therefore, the conduct of Condoleeza Rice and Richard Clarke during the months prior to 9/11. According to the author, Team 3 staffers would come to believe that Mr. Zelikow prevented them from submitting a report that would have depicted Ms. Rice's performance as "amount[ing] to incompetence, or something not far from it." Evidence of the possible duplicitous nature of Mr. Zelikows role on the 9/11 Commission was further exemplified by his numerous conversations with Karl Rove, President Bushs Senior Political Advisor. When questioned about his contact with Rove, Zelikows response was to tell his secretary to stop logging his calls. Contrary to former Commissioner John Lehmans recent comment on MSNBC that Zelikows conversations with Rove are a red herring, these contacts with Rove should have been a red flag. Negotiating for or procuring of White House documents for the Commission should have been done through the Office of White House Counsel NOT the Presidents political advisor. Consequently, knowing how this would appear, one must ask why Zelikow was speaking with Rove? It is abundantly clear that Philip Zelikow should have immediately been replaced when the first rumblings of his impropriety and conflicts of interest surfaced. When all of this information became clear, the Commissioners and the press should have called for Zelikows resignation. We did. Shamefully, most were silent. Further evidence of political maneuvering came to light in the story of Commissioner Max Cleland. Cleland was publicly critical of the Commission and the Bush White House. According to Shenons book, when it became obvious that Max Cleland would continue to be loudly critical, Commission Chairman Tom Kean and Vice-Chair Lee Hamilton sought the help of Senator Tom Daschle to find Cleland a new job. Thus, Max Cleland was quietly removed and silenced with a new job in the Bush Administration. Also revealed in Shenons book is the fact that the Commissions staff never ventured to the National Security Agency (NSA), the chief collector of intelligence information, in order to review their voluminous treasure trove of documents. At NSA Headquarters, 27 miles from the Commissions offices, there was a gold mine of information detailing terrorists threats and connections, including those of al Qaeda. General Michael Hayden, who headed the NSA at the time, was eager to cooperate and share what his organization had with the 9/11 Commission, but Executive Director Zelikow was not interested. A lone staffer, who understood the importance of these archives, had the information moved to a reading room within walking distance of the Commissions offices. Even then, she was the only member of the Commission to take the time to read these documents. By her own admission, this insightful staffer had concerns as to how much she, on her own, would be able to glean from these jargon filled documents. Why didnt Phil Zelikow make reviewing these vital NSA documents a Commission priority? It seems clear that not every fact and lead was followed in this investigation compromising the validity of the Commissions final report and its findings. Moreover, the Pre-9/11 story largely revolved around second and third hand knowledge of interrogations of tortured individuals, detainees that were being held in secret locations. According to many sources at the CIA and deep within the government, confessions extracted from individuals who are tortured are generally deemed useless. A tortured detainee will say anything in order to make the torture stop and therefore, the confession cannot be trusted. One needs to look no further than the Army Field Manual on Interrogation (FM 34-52), which states in Chapter 1:
How could the Commission have based their entire pre-9/11 narrative on these unreliable, torture-induced confessions? We believe that author Phil Shenon has revealed information which only scratches the surface as to what went on behind the scenes of this investigation. Why, when this Congressionally mandated Commission could have done much to fix the fatal flaws in our in government by conducting a real investigation and making vital recommendations, would they instead allow it to become a sham. This investigation was meant to fix the loopholes that allowed our Country to be so vulnerable. Why would they choose instead, to succumb to political machinations? What would we find out if a real investigation into September 11, 2001 were ever done? The bottom line is that the most deadly attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor remains dangerously unexamined. This can only be remedied with an investigation guided by the facts and conducted outside the reach of those with a vested interest in suppressing the truth.
# # #
Patty Casazza
Rep. Maloney
on Canceled National 9/11 Health Care Plan
& How
Decision May Affect NYC-Area Clinics
New York, NY
– Today, the House Oversight Subcommittee on Government
Management, Organization, and Procurement convened a
hearing in lower Manhattan to examine why the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services
abruptly halted its plans to provide health care for
thousands of 9/11 responders and others from outside
the tri-state area who are sick or injured as a result
of the 9/11 attacks. Witnesses at the hearing also
discussed how this decision may affect the six New York
City-area 9/11 health clinics.
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-Manhattan,
“Good
morning. As many of you may know, more than 70,000
Americans have signed up for the World Trade Center
Health Registry because they are concerned about their
exposure to the toxic aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
About 60,000 of those registered hail from the tri-state
area and most have access to health clinics operated by
the local Centers of Excellence, including
“What many
of you may not know, however, is that the other 10,000
registrants live outside the
“Today we
are joined by three responders who live outside the
“Chief
Fraone from
“Joseph
Libretti, an iron worker from Pennsylvania, who spent
the first months responding to the attack and is now
seriously ill from his exposure to toxins at Ground
Zero, can no longer work and has to travel 100 miles one
way to see his doctor here in New York.
“We will
also hear from Kevin Mount, a former heavy equipment
operator from the NYC Department of Sanitation who
worked on the pile and had to retire to
“These
responders represent thousands of rescue and recovery
workers who came from around the country to help
“However,
just before Christmas, the Bush Administration abruptly
terminated a Request for Contracts to set up the
“The
Administration's abrupt and ill-advised decision
essentially ended the hope that sick 9/11 responders
from around the country could any time soon get
long-term, federally-funded medical monitoring and
treatment without traveling to the
“The Request
for Contracts for the national program was first put out
in October, and the final December 19th deadline to
submit contracts was fast approaching when the
Administration suddenly decided to pull the plug.
“Senators
Clinton and Schumer and Congressmen Nadler and Fossella
and I sent a letter to Health and Human Services
Secretary Michael Leavitt looking for answers about this
abrupt change of course. The letter is available
at the sign in desk.
“The reasons
given at the time just did not make any sense.
“First, they
said there wasn't enough money to fund the contract.
Now, if this were true, it would mean that the
Department failed to ask for enough money to cover its
own programs, which would certainly be odd, but in fact
it was not true that there wasn't enough money, since
the proposed contract was flexible, and since, within
days, Congress appropriated another $108 million for
9/11 health care, which, added to the $50 million we
approved earlier in the year, would have been more than
enough to fund the contract.
“They also
said there was ‘bidders' confusion,’ but in fact one
potential bidder has publicly stated that not only were
they not confused, but they were ready and willing to
submit a bid.
“We wanted
to know why the decision was made, who made it, and what
alternative plans the Administration may have in store
if they don't reinstate their request for contracts.
We asked for an answer before Friday, December 21st.
We didn't get one. It is now January 22nd
and we still
do not have an answer.
“As Chairman
Towns stated, he asked Secretary Leavitt to testify
today, or at least send someone to do so, but apparently
neither he nor any of the thousands of people who work
for him could spare a few hours of their time for the
heroes of 9/11. It seems that while thousands came
to
“The
Secretary's silence on this matter is part of a pattern
that would almost be funny if the stakes weren't so
serious.
“So today we
have an empty chair instead of getting the answers we
need. Dr. Melius will have to explain this
situation to us since the Government decided not to
show.
“As I
mentioned earlier, the consequences of the
Administration's decision will be felt not just in
states like
“While this
committee deals with government contracting and grants
all the time I think I need to explain in greater detail
the problem that we may be facing on the local level
because of the administration's decision.
“Under
normal government grant-making procedures, contracts and
grants are drafted with a limit on how much can be spent
and that is what was done with the federal grants made
to the Centers of Excellence, which provide medical
monitoring and treatment to 9/11 responders in the New
York area.
“Without the
business center that NIOSH was attempting to set up,
(or, rather, that the administration stopped,) clinics
like Mt. Sinai that are operating under current grant
arrangements will need their spending limits modified in
the next few months or they will not be able to operate.
“Once these
spending caps are reached, federal funds that we
struggled to get, basically over the administrations'
objections, will have to sit in a bank account, rather
than be used to provide care to 9/11 responders and
others.
“Now, had
the proposed business center gone through as planned,
the current grant arrangements and spending caps for the
local Centers of Excellence would have been superseded
by a new arrangement to pay costs through the national
business center and no further procedures would have
been necessary.
“But when
the Administration pulled the plug on the national
program, it also pulled the plug on the way the local
programs were going to operate.
“My concern
now is that this administration, which never supported
the clinics, or the effort to medically monitor and
treat 9/11 responders, will let them shut down.
“While the
administration chose not to be here to answer our
questions I am grateful that our witnesses today were
able to be here and testify.
“Thank you,
Chief Fraone, Mr. Libretti and Mr. Mount for your
service, and thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
CONGRESSMAN JERROLD NADLER 8th Congressional District of New York Rep. Nadler Statement at Field Hearing on National 9/11 Health Care Plan FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 CONTACT: Shin Inouye, 202-225-5635 NEW YORK CITY – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), whose district includes the site of the World Trade Center, today attended a House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement field hearing in New York City entitled “9/11 Health: Why Did HHS Cancel Contracts to Manage Responder Health Care?” His prepared opening remarks at the hearing are as follows: “Thank you, Chairman Towns. I would like to thank you for holding this hearing today, and for inviting me to testify, regarding the federal government’s continued malfeasance in the years after September 11. “I am outraged to stand here yet again to say that the Bush Administration has turned its back on the heroes of 9/11. “When the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11, 2001, people came from every state in the nation to aide in the massive rescue and recovery effort at Ground Zero. FEMA deployed 20 Urban Search and Rescue task forces from 14 states, as far away as California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida to dig through the rubble, looking for survivors. “These first responders – firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, and others - did this amidst hundreds of tons of asbestos, nearly half a million pounds of lead, and untold amounts of glass fibers, steel and concrete that formed a massive cloud of toxic dust and smoke. Now, six years later, many of these selfless men and women are sick as a result of their work at Ground Zero. They are scattered across the country, many hundreds or thousands of miles away from the medical experts who are best qualified to treat them. Others who once lived in New York City have moved away, often because their illnesses were so severe. “For six long years, we have fought every single day to force the federal government to provide health care for those people who have become sick from 9/11. And after six long years of shirking its responsibilities, it seemed like the Administration was finally poised to take the first step toward establishing a coordinated treatment mechanism for rescue and recovery workers who live outside the New York metropolitan area. The Department of Health and Human Services issued a Request for Proposals for the World Trade Center Business Process Center, which would manage this enormously complicated task. “But now, the Administration is dropping the plan – because, it says, Congress has not provided enough money. If saving the lives of first responders requires more funds, the Administration should have asked Congress for more funds. It is outrageous to kill this program before its birth. The lives of the first responders should be worth more than the $56 million the Administration says that it is short. The Bush Administration is yet again ignoring its moral obligation to the living victims of 9/11 – the White House is re-victimizing the victims of that tragedy. “Furthermore, providing health care to sick first responders across the country is only one of several programs that must be put in place if we are to fully recover from the environmental effects of 9/11. We recently fought tooth and nail to provide funding for the Centers of Excellence, who are doing such an incredible job of caring for people with a myriad of 9/11-related diseases. I am proud to say that we secured $108 million for 9/11 health, the first money to be provided in a regular appropriations bill. And for the first time, this federal funding will be available not only to first responders, but to everyone – residents, students, and area workers – whose health was affected by 9/11. “But this is not enough. Last year, I introduced the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act with several of my colleagues, which would provide comprehensive health benefits to everyone whose health was affected by 9/11. And we still need a comprehensive test and clean plan to ensure that no one else will be harmed by contamination in their homes, schools, or offices. “The World Trade Center Business Process Center is a crucial piece in providing health care to the thousands of people across the country whose health was affected by 9/11. As the Congressman who represents the area where the World Trade Center once stood, I saw first hand the incredible work they did in the wake of 9/11. We have a moral obligation to the living victims of 9/11, and I urge the Administration to honor its commitment and move forward with this program.” ### Jerrold Nadler has served in Congress since 1992. He represents New York’s 8th Congressional District, which includes parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
UNITED STATES CONGRESS Press Release Reps. Nadler and Maloney React to Resignation of Christine LaSala from WTC Captive Insurance Company FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, January 9, 2008 CONTACT: Shin Inouye (Nadler), 202-225-5635 Joe Soldevere (Maloney), 212-860-0606 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-08) and Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) today issued the following on the announcement that Christine LaSala will step down as President of the WTC Captive Insurance Company: “Anyone who is proud of the fact that the Fund has more money now than when it first started fundamentally misunderstands its purpose,” said Congressman Nadler. “The funds were provided to help workers who continue to suffer because of their exposure at Ground Zero, without bankrupting the City and contractors. While Ms. LaSala protected the City and contractors, she clearly failed to help the workers. I strongly encourage the Captive Board to select a new president that will fulfill the Fund’s original intent and mandate.” “Sick 9/11 workers have filed thousands of claims against the Captive over the last three years, and I'm sure that many -if not most- of these claims are valid. If the Captive is going to continue its blanket refusal of these claims, it’d be cheaper for them just to buy a rubber stamp than replace Ms. LaSala,” said Congresswoman Maloney. “The millions Ms. LaSala spent on overhead during her tenure could have done a world of good for suffering 9/11 heroes.”
For Immediate Release – January 4, 2008 Contact: Joe Soldevere (Maloney), 212-860-0606 Shin Inouye (Nadler), 202-225-5635 Craig Donner (Fossella), 718-356-8400 On 2nd Anniversary of Death of Detective James Zadroga, NY Reps. Pledge to Redouble Efforts to Provide Care for All 9/11 Heroes New York, NY – On the eve of the second anniversary of the death of NYPD Detective James Zadroga, Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Vito Fossella (R-NY) released a statement, below, saying they plan to redouble their efforts to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which would provide medical monitoring to everyone exposed to Ground Zero toxins and treatment for anyone who is sick as a result. Zadroga, an NYPD homicide detective and 9/11 responder, died on January 5, 2006. In April 2006, the Ocean County Medical Examiner determined that Detective Zadroga’s death was caused by his work at Ground Zero, the first time that any government agency had directly linked a death to the toxic aftermath of the 9/11 attack |