As 9/11 Compensation Awards Top $1 Billion, Advocates Urge Congress to Reauthorize Bill to Help 9/11 Responders and Survivors

Today, September 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) Special Master Sheila Birnbaum announced that the Fund has issued compensation awards in excess of $1 billion to ailing 9/11 responders and survivors. Ms. Birnbaum also released updated statistics on the Fund’s progress to date.

Please click here to see the Special Master’s announcement
http://www.vcf.gov/blogprogstatsapr2015.html
Please click here for updated information on Victim Compensation Fund awards and claims
www.vcf.gov/pdf/VCFProgramStatistics04082015.pdf

Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act is a coalition to help injured and dying 9/11 responders and survivors and reauthorize the federal law that established the VCF and vital health care programs to treat and monitor 9/11-related illnesses and injuries. Citizens for the Extension issued the following statement in response to the Special Master’s announcement:

“We applaud this substantial progress in compensating those who are suffering from 9/11-related illnesses and injuries, as well as the families of the men and women who have died as a result of their service to the nation. Special Master Birnbaum and her staff should be commended for their efforts, which to date have extended more than a billion dollars in aid to 9/11 responders and survivors. While there are thousands of claims still pending, the Fund is succeeding in delivering this long-overdue help.

“However, today’s report also makes clear the need to reauthorize the legislation that created the Fund and make sure there is sufficient funding to fully pay all awards that are helping so many heroes and heroines of the 9/11 attacks.

“While the Fund has made final determinations for about 4,400 of the claims made to date, it has expended almost 40% of its funding. Congress must act to ensure that all eligible claims, now and in the future, can be fully covered. At the Fund’s current rate of compensation, there is real potential that determinations may have to be reduced due to a lack of federal funding.

“By renewing the Zadroga Act, we can avoid this injustice and repay our moral and financial debt to those who came to our nation’s rescue on and after 9/11.  The need is real – we will see if Washington’s vow to “remember 9/11” is real, too.”

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