Statement by Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, on the Announcement of the Implementation of the Expansion of the World Trade Center Health Program to include all Responders to the Pentagon and Shanksville, Including Former Active Duty Soldiers and Sailors, Who Will Now Be Able to Enroll in the WTC Health Program.

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 sailors as well as civilians, along with other Federal employees, will now be able to join the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).

Before this expansion by Congress, some responders to the Pentagon and Shanksville sites were prevented from joining the program.

Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act is grateful for the continuing bipartisan efforts of the House and Senate Members, on behalf of 9/11 injured and ill responders. Now thanks to their efforts, all the responders to both the Pentagon and the Shanksville crash site will be able to be included in the World Trade Center Health Program and get their 9/11 health issues addressed.

Here is today’s announcement of the implementation from the Federal Register.

It is our understanding that those responders who applied in the past to the WTC Health Program and were rejected will be contacted by the program in next few weeks, to invite them to now enroll.

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, September 11, 2024, the World Trade Center Health Program website will have information on eligibility and the WTCHP Help Line 1-888-982-4748 will be able to answer questions.

Again it is with the continued commitment by 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) along with many others who after 23 years continue to maintain the commitment to injured 9/11 responders and survivors.

Background

Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act led the effort to have this expansion of the program enacted, you can read more about the need for the expansion of the WTCHP to include more Pentagon and Shanksville responders here on our webpage.

You can also learn about our efforts to pass the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024 HR. 9101/S. 4724 to prevent the possibility of cuts in services in the future and make sure the Health Program is fully funded.

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 until 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.

You can help in this effort to make sure the World Trade Center is fully funded by going to our website here to “Take Action” and we will connect you to your Congressional Representatives.