Statement on the Inclusion of 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act Components in the End of Year Health Care Extenders

Bipartisan efforts of Senators Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Mike Braun of Indiana along with Congressman Andrew Garbarino and Speaker Mike Johnson Secure critical World Trade Center Health Program funding formula fix.

Today the leadership of the House and the Senate announced agreement on a final version of the end of the year Health Care Extenders Bill that will be put before both Houses of Congress. The bill will include a new funding formula for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). The addition of this provision was made possible by the bipartisan efforts of Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), along with Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

This provision added to the legislation, will make a substantial change to the WTCHP funding formula starting next year.

That change resolves the current projected funding deficit that would have forced cuts in program services for sick and injured 9/11 responders and survivors starting in 2027.

The new formula provides substantially more funding for the program of over the next fifteen years and removes the threat of the current planned cuts.

Benjamin Chevat, Executive Director of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act stated, “We are grateful for the continuing bipartisan efforts of Senators Schumer, Gillibrand, and Braun, as well as Congressman Andrew Garbarino and Speaker Mike Johnson, among others. Their work will remove the threat of impending cuts in services that would have started in 2027 and the new funding formula provides substantially more funding for the program of over the next fifteen years.”

“While we will never rest until every 9/11 responder and survivor receives the care and monitoring that they need and deserve, the peace of mind brought by today’s announcement is an early holiday gift for those that depend on the program. The impending crisis has been averted, and that should be celebrated.”