Senator Gillibrand to Appear on Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Effort to pass 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization
WASHINGTON –Tonight on The Daily Show, Comedy Central at 11 P.M. EST, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senate sponsor of the “James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act” (S.928/HR.1786) will be Jon Stewart’s guest and will be discussing the Senator’s effort to reauthorize and fully fund the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.
Today is the 4th anniversary of the law going in to effect on July 1, 2011; here is Dr. John Howard’s statement on four years of health care to injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors.
To learn more about the campaign to get Washington to renew the law and to find out how you can join in that effort you can go to Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act website.
Background: Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act is a coalition of advocates who are working to make sure that Washington does the right thing and renews and extends the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. More than 33,000 sick and injured 9/11 responders and survivors, many with 9/11 cancers, depend on the medical treatment and the compensation programs provided by this law. Over 70,000 participate in the World Trade Center Health Program, including responders to the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the Shanksville Crash site and survivors of the WTC attack and over 10,000 to date have been found eligible for compensation under the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund. 9/11 responders and survivors are now residing in every state and in 429 of 435 Congressional districts.
Unless Congress acts, the World Trade Center Health Program, as well as the September 11th Victim Compensation Program, are due to shut down, leaving thousands with no specialized health care for their 9/11 injuries and with their promised compensation being reduced by perhaps over 60% and leaving those expected to contract 9/11 cancers in the future with no help.