Statement by 911 Health Watch and Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act

With a heavy heart we must report that Dr. James Melius had died.

Dr. Melius was a founding member of 911 Health Watch and Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, Chair of the World Trade Center Health Program Responders Steering Committee and Administrator of the New York State Laborer’s Health and Trust Fund among a number of other positions and committees.

He was instrumental in the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which he helped to draft. The act created the World Trade Center Health Program which is currently providing health care and medical monitoring to over 80,000 9/11 responders and survivors. It also reopened the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund which has provided over 3 billion dollars in compensation to thousands of injured and ill 911 responders and survivors.

This legislation, which Washington failed to act on for years, could not have been possible with out Dr. Melius’s selfless hard work and dedication.

Dr. Melius graduated from Brown University and the University of Illinois Medical School. He was certified in Family Practice and Occupational Medicine, and he held positions in the N.Y. S. Health Department, the State University of New York at Albany, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

In addition to his work on behalf of 9/11 responders and survivors he was Chair of the Medical Advisory Board, International Association of Fire Fighters, a member of the Presidential Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health, and a Board Member of Audubon New York and the Endorsement Committee of the League of Conservation Voters.

Dr. Melius cared deeply about the wellbeing of working people. Through his life’s work, he helped countless men and women, most of whom will never even know the important role he played in their lives.

We will miss him.

There will be a public memorial in New York City at the end of March.

Board of Directors and Executive Director, 911 Health Watch and Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act.

Suzy Ballantyne
Benjamin Chevat
Lee Clarke
Ryan Delgado
Liam Guilfoyle
Peg Seminario
James Slevin