Statement from Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act on the Failure of the Continuing Resolution that Contained Additional Funding for the World Trade Center Health Program

Earlier this week we celebrated the bipartisan efforts of Senators Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Mike Braun of Indiana along with Congressman Andrew Garbarino and Speaker Mike Johnson and their colleagues to include a critical fix to World Trade Center Health Program funding formula. This would have dealt with the impending budget deficit and resulting cuts to services for sick and injured 9/11 responders and survivors that will go into effect in 2027.

Clearly, we are disappointed by the failure to have this provision included in the Continuing Resolution. We know that Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Representatives Garbarino, Nadler and Lawler among others, were committed to dealing with the impending service cuts to injured 9/11 responders and survivors, but the events of the last few days stopped their effort as it approached the finish line.

Sick and injured responders should not have walk the halls of Congress hat in hand to receive what they need and was promised to them by the federal government, but ultimately we may be forced to ask them to return, just as they did 14 years ago to get the original bill passed and that is shameful.

Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, along with our fellow responder advocates, unions and survivors, remain committed to getting this done long before this threat to care would need to be contemplated.

We won’t accept that as we approach the 25th Anniversary of the attack, that the needs of those injured by the toxins at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and the Shanksville crash site from every State and 434 Congressional Districts, will not be met.

Background

We wanted to share this strong statement of support from the Northeast Republican Members of the House.

Northeast Republicans Reaffirm Commitment to World Trade Center Health Program
December 19, 2024
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Earlier this week, the text of the negotiated year-end Continuing Resolution (CR) was released including a solution to the longstanding funding shortfall impacting the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) negotiated by Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) with House and Senate leadership. The CR was later pulled from consideration before receiving a floor vote in either Chamber. 

Representatives Andrew Garbarino, Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY-04), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), and Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ-07) released the following statement:

“The widespread, bipartisan, and bicameral support for preventing impending cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) remains unwavering. 

“The successful inclusion of the provision to fix the WTCHP funding formula and address its funding shortfall in the CR—with strong support from Speaker Mike Johnson, Northeast Republicans, and Democratic leaders like Senators Gillibrand and Schumer—underscores the popularity and viability of a long-term fix for the program. Despite the temporary setback posed by funding negotiations, we are steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding this vital program for the 9/11 responders and survivors from Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and the Shanksville crash site who depend on it. 

“The failure of the CR due to unrelated provisions does not alter our ultimate goal or diminish our resolve. We remain confident in our ability to secure a path forward.”