releases: http://seanmaloney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/maloney-joins-911-first-responders-and-survivors-to-call-on
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://seanmaloney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/maloney-joins-911-first-responders-and-survivors-to-call-on | Maloney Joins 9/11 First Responders and Survivors to Call on Congressional Leaders to Extend and Fully Fund the Zadroga Act by Years End | 2015-12-03 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Democrat | House | NY | Sean Maloney | M001185 | seanmaloney.house.gov | legacy | Washington DCToday on Capitol Hill, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) joined Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, 9/11 advocate John Feal and first responders and survivors joined together with his colleagues in the House and Senate to call on Congress to extend and fully fund the bipartisanJames Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act by years end. Authorization for the Zadroga Act, which created the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, expired Oct. 1, 2015. The press conference occurred as Congress worked to wrap-up its remaining agenda items for the year. With the end of session approaching, time is running out to renew and fully-fund programs that provide health care and compensation to 9/11 first responders and survivors. Despite widespread bipartisan support including 256 co-sponsors in the House and 66 in the Senate, Congressional leaders have failed to bring the reauthorization bill to a vote.As a result of their inaction, tens of thousands of men and women from all 50 states and 433 of 435 congressional districts have been forced to live in fear that the programs on which their lives depend will be torn away from them and their families. Maloney was joined by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Members of Congress Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Congressman Peter King (R-NY), Chris Smith (R- NJ), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Congressman Chris Collins (R-NY), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Dan Donovan (R-NY), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Nydia M. Velzquez (D-NY), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Jose Serrano (D-NY), and Lee Zeldin (R-NY). Fourteen years after the September 11th attacks, we remember the selfless men and women who bravely risked their lives in the aftermath of the attack. These first responders embody the unbreakable spirit of New Yorkers and the best of the United States of America. They deserve our best in return, and this is not it. Weve talked about what needs to happen to get this passed, and how were going to finance this bill with pay-fors. Ill tell you what the pay-fors are: a kid not getting to play catch with his old man in the back yard. Children growing up without fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters. The families of the victims and the first responders have paid for this bill with their lives. Theres no excuse for not getting this done immediately. said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY). Over the last several months, weve heard a number of kind words from Members of Congress about first responders and there service on and after September 11, 2001, but quite frankly weve had enough of the platitudes. Its time for Congress to do its job, said Richard Alles, Deputy Chief FDNY, Board Member Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act.The Zadroga Act has already expired; the clock is ticking. We are counting on Congress to step-up and renew health care and compensation now. What many see as a setback, I see as a set up for our bill to get done next week. This is our story, and we write our own story, said 9/11 Advocate John Feal. I am awed by the efforts of so many fire fighters, police officers, and other individual workers and their unions who have been walking the halls of Congress for months securing support from their representatives. I hope Congress hears our voices today and the voices of a nation that appreciates the service of the many fire fighters, police officers, and workers who were there that terrible day and worked on that pile for months thereafter. Weve had enough debate. Now is the time to act, said International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger. "Thousands of brave men and women never gave it a second thought when they risked their own lives to help in the rescue and recovery after 9/11," said Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO."Congress recognized their acts of heroism in 2010 bypassing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Now, before they leave for the holidays to enjoy time with their families, theymust follow through and renew andfully fund these critical health care and compensation programs. It's the right thing to do and will finally givefirst responders,survivors, and their families the relief they so desperately need." "On 9/11,first responders rushed to the World Trade Center without thinking twice about what would happen to them. In the months after, they continued to put their lives at risk doing rescue and recovery work at Ground Zero. They were just doing their jobs and they would do it again," said Michael McHale, President of the National Association of Police Organizations. "Congress now has to do its job and show these men and women who have sacrificed so much for their country that their government supports them by fully funding and extending the Zadroga Act." "As a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, I am disheartened I have to continue to beg Congress to support this simple bill," said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Chief Policy Officer Matt Miller. "Unfortunately, Congress allowed the act to expire in October 2015, turning their backs to the 9/11 families, first-responders and veterans who answered the call to serve in those dark days and during the last 14 years. Our country has an obligation to support these true American heroes and their families.We urge every single lawmaker on Capitol Hill to put aside their partisan politics aside and support the continuation of the Zadroga Act before the end of 2015." BACKGROUND ON THE 9/11 HEALTH CRISIS As the nation recovered from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a public health disaster was just beginning to unfold. After 9/11, Americans from all 50 states rushed to Ground Zero to assist with the rescue and recovery effort. Thousands of brave men and women risked their lives to help others, working in extremely hazardous conditions often without proper protective equipment while the Federal Government assured them that the air was safe. Many were injured in the course of this work. Rescue and recovery workers breathed in a toxic stew of chemicals, asbestos, pulverized cement, and other health hazards released into the air when the towers fell, and as the site smoldered for months. The dust cloud that rolled through lower Manhattan after the attacks settled in homes, offices, and buildings exposing tens of thousands more residents, students area workers to the same toxins. Today,more than33,000 9/11 responders and survivorsare struggling with illnesses or injuries caused by the attacks. They live inevery stateand433 out of 435 Congressionaldistricts nationwide. Many are disabled and can no longer work. They are suffering from a host of chronic diseases:asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, to name but a few. Medical research has identified more than 50 types of cancer caused by 9/11 toxins. At least 4,166 people have been diagnosed with cancers caused or made worse by 9/11 a number that is sure to grow in the years to come. To date over94 NYPD police officershave reportedly died from their 9/11 injuries since 9/11, more than were killed on 9/11 and more than 110 FDNY firefighters have also died with in the years since, with more deaths expected among all the responders and survivors. Here are videos that let injured 9/11 responders and survivors and those that care for them explain the problem. Renew James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act Nurses ask Washington to save cancer treatment for the 9/11 Heroes they care for! Interview with John Feal on RNN telling the stories of first responders. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |