Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08) is pleased to announce that $50 million has been included in the 2008 House Labor-HHS Appropriations bill for the World Trade Center Monitoring and Treatment Program. Rep. Nadler, along with 22 representatives, wrote to the Appropriations Committee earlier this year to ask for the funding, as well as the development of a comprehensive approach to 9/11 health that would include residents, non-first responder workers and school children. The full House is expected to consider the funding bill in the coming weeks.
"This funding is a significant step in meeting our obligation to provide for the monitoring and treatment for those brave first responders who were exposed to toxins at the World Trade Center," said Rep. Nadler. "The President’s $25 million ‘placeholder’ in the budget is simply not enough, and I want to thank Chairman Obey for doubling that amount. However, we will continue to fight for all the funds necessary to provide health care for those impacted by the World Trade Center collapse. In the days after 9/11, first-responders came to New York from around the country to help in any way they could. The least we must do now is help those that have since become sick and need treatment. Furthermore, we still need to fund the health needs of residents, non-first responder workers and school children."
The Members of Congress who signed the letter are:
Rep. Jerrold Nadler
Rep. Gary L. Ackerman
Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez
Rep. Michael R. McNulty
Rep. Edolphus Towns
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy
Rep. Eliot L. Engel
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks
Rep. Yvette D. Clarke
Rep. Joseph Crowley
Rep. Nita M. Lowey
Rep. Anthony D. Weiner
Rep. Michael A. Arcuri
Rep. Kristen E. Gillibrand
Rep. Charles B. Rangel
Rep. Louise McIntosh Slaughter
Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey
Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Rep. Steve Israel
Rep. Timothy H. Bishop
Rep. John J. Hall
Rep. Phil Hare
Rep. Brian Higgins