Legislation
The Need for Legislation Explained
After years of efforts by 9/11 responders and survivors to get Washington to recognize the health impacts of the toxins at Ground Zero that were affecting thousands, the World Trade Center Health Program was finally created by Congress in 2010 and was reauthorized in 2015, to remain open until 2090.
The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) currently provides medical treatment and monitoring for over 132,000 9/11 responders and survivors from the World Trade Center and lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, and the Shanksville crash site, who live in every State and 434 out of 435 Congressional Districts.
However, because of increasing medical costs and increasing numbers of ill responders and survivors coming forward the funding formula for the World Trade Center Health Program will not provide enough funds to cover all the care that is needed for those still suffering the physical and mental impact of 9/11. This includes the responders and survivors who will be newly diagnosed with 9/11-associated cancers caused by their toxic exposures in the coming years.
Also as is evident from recent studies, such as the recent paper that reports potentially increased levels of dementia in 9/11 responders, more research needs to be funded into the impact of the toxins at Ground Zero.
Unless action is taken to deal with the impending budget shortfall, the World Trade Center Health Program will be facing service cuts to 9/11 responders and survivors unless Congress acts and provides the needed funding.
For example, if no action is taken it is likely that the program would have to start limiting new responders and survivors who may be stricken with 9/11 cancers from enrolling in the program starting in October of 2027 because of the program deficit, with cuts in services to members of the program in the years after that.
There have been efforts in Congress to resolve this issue and get the program the funding it needs. First, with an additional billion dollars of funding that was provided in the 2022 Omnibus spending bill, through the efforts of Senators Gillibrand and Schumer.
And again, in July of 2023, when Senators Gillibrand, Schumer were joined by Senator Mike Braun of (R-IN) in an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that provided an additional $444 million in funding for the program and corrected the problem that some Pentagon and Shanksville responders, including those that were active-duty Military could not join the Health Program.
While these efforts did postpone the date that service cuts would go into effect by several years, Congress will still need to provide additional funds to stop the cuts to services and ensure that the World Trade Center Health Program is fully funded and able to provide its care to injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors.
9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024
To fix this problem Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Charles Schumer (D-NY), Robert Casey (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mike Braun (R-IN), along with Members of Congress Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Dan Goldman (D-NY) along with other members, introduced new bi-partisan legislation, the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024 HR..9101/S. 4724.
This legislation would:
- Provide funding to prevent cuts in services and deal with the program’s projected budget deficit over the next ten years.
- Fix funding formula after FY2034 to ensure adequate funding in the future for the life of program untill it expires in 2090.
- Increase funding for research and data collection on 9/11 conditions.
- Make certain technical corrections to the current statute.
- Its cost is fully paid for.
This legislation is needed to ensure that the slogan that we will never forget 9/11 is a reality and that 9/11 responders and survivors will continue to the get care that they need and deserve. This legislation will permanently address the projected funding shortfall and ensure that the World Trade Center Health Program will be fully funded going forward.
Please join us in making sure your representative in the House or the Senate is a co-sponsor of the bill. You can check if your member of Congress is on the bill by going to our “Take Action” page, type in your address and see if your Representative is on the bill.
Bill Text
9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act
Bill Summary
Summary of 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024
Cosponsors of 2024 Legislation
List of Senate Sponsors S. 4724
List of House Sponsors HR. 9101
Dear Colleagues
Garbarino, Nadler, D ’Esposito, Goldman Dear Colleague 911 Funding Correction Act July 22, 2024
Memo in Support
Memo in Support July 24, 2024
Statistics
WTC Health Program Membership by State and Congressional District June 2024
VCF Participation by State December 2023
Press Releases
September 10, 2024
Thanks to the bipartisan efforts of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Anthony D‘Esposito (R-NY), Dan Goldman (D-NY) with the support of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), all 9/11 responders to the Pentagon and Shanksville who were active-duty DOD military, soldiers and […]
July 25, 2024
The “9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024” will address the impending budget shortfall in the program that is being caused by the precipitous rise in overall medical costs and in cancer rates that the program has experienced, which is leading to a shortfall in funding in the coming years.
July 27, 2023
Today’s amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the Senate by an overwhelming vote of 94 to 4, was sponsored by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), along with Senator Charles Schumer(D-NY) and will: This amendment was fully paid for under legislative rules. Benjamin Chevat, Executive Director of Citizens […]
News Articles
September 16, 2024 — NY Daily News — Missing in action for the WTC ill: Members of Congress must get on board
There is a shameful absence of far too many federal legislators who should be supporting full funding for the World Trade Center Health Program.
September 12, 2024 — AFL-CIO — Service & Solidarity Action: 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding
Survivors of 9/11 live in every single state and in 434 of 435 U.S. congressional districts. Every member of Congress should support legislation to fully fund this program.
September 12, 2024 — KDKA News/CBS Pittsburgh — 23 years after 9/11, World Trade Center Health Program expands to more Flight 93 first responders
Around 150 people who responded in Shanksville have enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program. But more than 1,000 responded to the crash site in the aftermath.
September 11, 2024 — News10 ABC Albany — Federal bills introduced to help support 9/11 victims and families
New York State Congressional members are pushing for legislation to that would continue to help victims and their families all these years later.
September 11, 2024 — NY Daily News — Hundreds of 9/11 FDNY first responders survived terror attacks, only to die from Ground Zero-related illnesses
Thomas LaBarbiera’s life’s ambition was realized on Sept. 11, 2001, when he was finally an FDNY firefighter racing to his first assignment. That same day, he was given a death sentence.
September 10, 2024 — Staten Island Advance — FDNY advocates fear funding for program supporting those with 9/11-related illness will run out
Advocates for additional funding believe the answer to this issue comes in the form of the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2023.
September 10, 2024 — New York Post — Nearly 17K first responders are suffering cancers, diseases linked to 9/11 over two decades later
At least 45,200 civilians and officers are suffering from at least one cancer or disease that has been directly linked to the largest terrorist attack in history.
September 10, 2024 — Spectrum News NY1 — FDNY unions push legislation to plug 9/11 health care funding shortfall
The act would provide additional funding for the program through 2033 and create a new formula to determine funding amounts for the program from 2034 through 2090.
September 9, 2024 — Newsday — More names of residents lost to 9/11-related illnesses added to Oyster Bay’s Walls of Honor
It wasn’t until after her husband passed away from pancreatic cancer last Sept. 11 that Joni Cassio realized her community’s commitment to those who lost their lives because of the attacks.
September 9, 2024 — New York Post — 9/11 FDNY first responders killed by Ground Zero toxins rises to 370 — surpassing total that died on day of terror attack
In the past year alone, 28 more members of the FDNY have died from 9/11-related illness and officials expect the number to increase — as federal funding is on the verge of drying out by 2028.
September 9, 2024 — NY Daily News — FDNY firefighters urge Congress to fund long-term care for 9/11-related illnesses
FDNY firefighters are making what they hope will be their final plea to Congress for long-term healthcare funding for first responders suffering from illnesses linked to toxic exposure at Ground Zero.
September 9, 2024 — Newsday — For some 9/11 first responders, the memories ‘are just not there’ after toxin exposure
The memory issues began subtly for Sept. 11 first responder Thomas Lenzo: A forgotten name, a missed appointment.
September 9, 2024 — CBS News New York — World Trade Center Health Program needs $3 billion in additional funding, 9/11 first responder advocates say
The World Trade Center Health Program was to be funded through 2090, but outspoken advocate John Feal says that money is running out.
September 7, 2024 — Newsday — New York delegation works to shore up health funding for 9/11 survivors
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) said they see a pathway for Congress this year to cover a projected $2.7 billion shortfall that would start at the end of 2027.
Editorial Support
September 11, 2024 — Crain’s New York — Editorial: New York’s spirit is evident in continuing investigation of 9/11 impacts
It’s admirable that New York’s research community continues to dig into the lasting effects of that terrible day, especially as many of those affected are alive and can benefit from these discoveries.
September 11, 2024 — NY Daily News — The WTC aftermath continues: Congress must fully fund the WTC Health Program
Five years after Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda destroyed the World Trade Center and killed thousands on 9/11, in 2006, this column took up the cause of the resulting health disaster.
September 10, 2024 — Newsday — It’s past time for Congress to fully fund the 9/11 health program
The cloud of toxic ash and dust that filled the air lifted long ago, but families across the region continue to feel its tragic effects.
July 29, 2024 — NY Daily News — Fund the WTC Health Program: Hakeem Jeffries and Mike Johnson need to get the House to pass the bill this year
The bill is needed to pump $2.9 billion into the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides medical care for the responders and survivors of 9/11.
January 2, 2024 — Newsday — Congress should make funding for the 9/11 health program permanent
Federal officials are still filling the World Trade Center Health Program’s budget holes piecemeal.
December 9, 2023 — NY Daily News — Mike Johnson’s 9/11 moment: The House speaker comes through for the World Trade Center Health Program
He found a way to fill in part of the shortfall in the CDC’s WTC Health Program that provides medical care for the responders and survivors who still suffer from the toxic fallout from the WTC’s destruction.
September 11, 2023 — NY Daily News — Congress isn’t done with 9/11: The World Trade Center Health Program must be fully funded
Down the road medical care for these people will have to be rationed. Should that be our legacy in the years ahead as more and more get sicker and more die?
Letters in Support
9/10/2024 AFSCME Letter of Support
9/8/24 NYS AFL CIO Letter of Support for HR 9101/ S 4724
Older Information
Legislation page for 2023 Funding Effort
Legislation page for 2021- 2022 Funding Effort
Legislation Page for 2019 Effort to Permanently Reauthorize & Fund VCF