Senators Gillibrand, Schumer, Braun and Representatives Garbarino, Nadler, D’Esposito and Goldman Introduce Legislation to Deal with the Impending Funding Shortfall Facing the World Trade Center Health Program
Statement from Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act on the introduction of the Bipartisan “9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024”
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, Inc. applauded the introduction of the “9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024” which addresses the impending funding shortfall facing the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).
This bipartisan legislation—introduced by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Charles Schumer (D-NY) Mike Braun (R-IN) Bob Casey (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) in the Senate Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Anthony D‘Esposito (R-NY), Dan Goldman (D-NY), and nearly the entire New York Congressional delegation along with Members of Congress from other States and—would close the budget gap in the WTCHP so that it can continue serving more than 132,000 responders and survivors impacted by the toxins at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and the Shanksville crash site.
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.
The World Trade Center Health Program has stated that unless Congress acts, they would have to close the program to new enrollees by 2028 and cut medical treatment services that injured and ill responders and survivors are receiving.
“It’s unconscionable that once again 9/11 responders and survivors are left wondering if the vital healthcare they are counting on and that they undeniably need and deserve will be there for them in the future. Congress did the right thing when the program was passed and extended in 2015. Now Congress has a moral obligation to fix this once and for all by passing legislation that will address the impending budget shortfall and make much needed corrections to the program. Thank you, Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer, and Representatives Garbarino, Goldman, D’Esposito, and Nadler for leading this critical effort.” – Ryan Delgado, President of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act and New York State AFL-CIO Chief of Staff.
“The budget shortfall is predictable, and Congress can—and should—fix it,” said Benjamin Chevat, Executive Director of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act. “The sponsors today have kept faith with the pledge to ‘Never Forget’ and their action today is a testament to their determination, ensuring that those injured and dealing with the impact of the toxins at Ground Zero continue to be cared for. We urge everyone who wants to make sure the country does NOT forget to call their member of Congress and urge them to join in this effort.”
Unless Congress acts, the program will have to stop taking new enrollees in 2027 and will have to cut back medical services to 9/11 responders and survivors in the years after that.
The lead sponsors of the “9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024” were joined in introducing the bill by:
House Cosponsors: Bowman (D-NY), Clarke (D-NY), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Kean (R-NJ), Kennedy (D-NY), LaLota (R-NY), Langworthy (R-NY), Lawler (R-NY), Malliotakis (R-NY), Meeks (D-NY), Meng (D-NY), Molinaro (R-NY), Morelle (D-NY), Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY),Ryan (D-NY), Stefanik (R-NY), Suozzi (D-NY), Tenney (R-NY), Tonko (D-NY), Torres (D-NY), Velasquez (D-NY), Williams (R-NY), Nadler (D-NY), D’Esposito (R-NY), and Goldman (D-NY)
Senate Cosponsors: Schumer (D-NY), Casey (D-PA), Warner (D-VA), Kaine (D-VA), Braun (R-IN)
As the members of Congress stated in their press release:
BACKGROUND:
The original James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was passed in 2010 and extended and reauthorized in 2015 until 2090.