U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Peter King (R-NY), authors of H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, today issued the following statement on the 3-year anniversary of the legislation being signed into law.

“Our country made a promise and has a responsibility to care for the first responders, cleanup workers and residents who were exposed to toxins at Ground Zero. After a long fight, we passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act to make good on that obligation. Much has been accomplished in the three years since this landmark legislation was signed into law, but our work is not finished.

“The World Trade Center Health Program has served more than 65,000 through evaluations and treatment. The physicians and staff at the Centers of Excellence have done a tremendous job providing health care to those suffering from WTC-related conditions, including the expanding population of those suffering from cancer as a result of WTC toxic exposures. The Victim Compensation Fund has begun compensating those who suffered economic losses, but only 112 individuals have been served so far. More must be done to increase the efficiency and transparency of this program, and in the coming year we will be working with stakeholders to make the necessary improvements. 

“We remain incredibly proud of the bipartisan effort that led to the creation of these crucial programs and will continue working to ensure that they work in the best possible way for those to whom we owe so much.”

BACKGROUND

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (P.L. 111-347) created two programs to care for the 9/11 responders and residents:

The World Trade Center Health Program, which provides medical monitoring and treatment for those who became ill as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 and their aftermath, as well as funding for ongoing medical research into the health impact of toxic exposures.

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund to provide for economic losses and harm resulting from toxic exposures.

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