You Can Help 9/11 Recovery Workers Today

"More than five years after the tragedy of September 11 took the lives of more than three thousand Americans, I’m sad to say that the disaster continues to claim victims until this very day.  While those who perished on 9-11 were murdered by savage terrorists, the people who are sick and dying today are victims of our own government’s negligence and incompetence.”               -Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-NY

The spotlight is now on recovery workers and others who are ill because of their exposure to Ground Zero toxins.  Legislators and advocates in New York have been particularly outspoken recently, attempting to increase federal support for health care programs. 

Reps. Nadler, Fossella, and Maloney and Senators Clinton, Menendez, Lautenberg, and Schumer, called on President Bush to provide health care to 9/11 recovery and Lower Manhattan office workers when he releases his FY 2009 budget request on February 4th.  The estimated need for the health programs in FY 2008 was over $200 million, of which the President only authorized a meager $25 million.  Said Sen. Menendez, "We are looking at a crisis that medical professionals have said could last decades, not just months or years... there needs to be a continuing commitment."

Senators Clinton, Schumer, Menendez, and Lautenberg also announced Senate passage of an additional $108 million in funding. It was approved as part of the FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill will be sent to the House for final passage before being sent to the President for signature.  The bill includes funding for monitoring and treatment activities administered by NIOSH, and will provide services to residents, office and commercial workers, students, and other individuals who were exposed.  Please contact your Representatives and urge them to approve this bill.

Funding that has already been allocated to WTC treatment centers is spent more quickly if patients develop catastrophic illnesses. 

Last year, Mayor Bloomberg called on the federal government to increase spending on health care programs for thousands of people who have become ill because of their proximity to  Ground Zero.  He established a special task force to investigate and offer recommendations about an estimated 43,000 people who were exposed to dust and smoke after 9/11; his new advocacy efforts are based in part on this panel’s findings.  You can download a copy of their report here.

Other studies on the health impacts of 9/11 can be found on Rep. Maloney’s website.

You can help first responders and others who continue to suffer the wave affects of the 9/11 attacks:

• CONTACT your Congressional representatives and urge them to pass pending  9/11 legislation. 

• DONATE to LDRNY, a long-time contributor to the Unmet Needs Roundtable.  Our Emergency Assistance fund provides direct financial support to  individuals in need.

• If you  (or someone you know) were part of the recovery effort, be sure to REGISTER for Worker’s Compensation before August 14, 2008.  Even if you’re healthy now, if you don’t register, you won’t be eligible if you develop an illness later.

• If you served at Ground Zero and have not yet been screened, please ENROLL in the WTC Medical Monitoring Program. What doctors learn from monitoring the health of thousands of these workers will help future disaster relief workers. 1.888.702.0630 from 9:00 am-5:00 pm, wtcexams@mssm.edu .

If you are already enrolled, be sure to FOLLOW-UP and attend your second and third appointments.

• Finally, keep all of those who toiled at the site or were in nearby offices, schools, and homes, in your thoughts and prayers.  REMEMBER our leaders, advocates, and doctors, too, as we all look for the best ways to care for those in need.