Today, U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, and Peter King, authors of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, released the following statement on the announcement by 9/11 Health Program Administrator Dr. John Howard that cancers will not yet be considered covered conditions under the Zadroga Act:

“As the sponsors of the Zadroga Act, we are disappointed that Dr. Howard has not yet found sufficient evidence to support covering cancers.  This is disappointing news for 9/11 responders and survivors who tragically have been diagnosed with cancer since the attacks and are suffering day-to-day and awaiting help.  We are confident that studies on the effects of the toxins at ground zero -research that, under the Zadroga Act, can be funded and fully supported for the first time- will ultimately provide the scientific evidence that Dr. Howard needs to make this determination.  Thankfully, we know that today’s announcement is not the last word on the inclusion of cancers in the program.

"The collapse of the Trade Center towers released a cloud of poisons, including carcinogens, throughout lower Manhattan and we fully expect that cancers will be covered under our legislation."

The Zadroga law provides health care for those injured or exposed to toxins released by the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, and reopens the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund to provide economic relief to those harmed by the attacks.  Please click here for a brief fact sheet on the health care and compensation provisions of the law.

Background

In January, Maloney, Nadler, and King released documents from the Congressional Research Service to help answer questions that members of the media and the public may have about the new law.  Below are links to those documents:

• A Q&A on eligibility for health and compensation benefits under the Zadroga Act;
• A brief, plain-language summary of the law; and
• A section-by-section summary of the law.

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