Today, 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, announced that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will be holding a public meeting in New York City on March 3rd to answer questions about how the new law will be implemented.  Maloney, Nadler, and King requested the meeting in a January 25th letter to Dr. John Howard, the Director of NIOSH.  A copy of that letter can be found below.

The meeting will be held from 9:00am to 4:45pm on March 3, 2011 in Conference Room A/B on the 6th Floor of the Javits Federal Building at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan.  Please click here for more information on the meeting.  Members of the public who wish to speak may sign up to do so at the meeting site starting 30 minutes before the meeting.

“Hopefully, this informational session will answer many questions that 9/11 responders and survivors have about the new law and how it will be implemented.  This meeting will also give responders and survivors the opportunity to offer their thoughts on how the law should be implemented and how the programs could be improved.  We thank Dr. Howard for agreeing to hold this meeting, and for all his work to make sure that those who lost their health because of 9/11 can get the care they need.

“As the bill’s House sponsors, we look forward to working with NIOSH and HHS to make sure the law is implemented well and that the heroes of 9/11 have a strong, effective program that best suits their needs.”

Under the new law, signed by President Obama at the start of the year, NIOSH is charged with carrying out the World Trade Center Health Programs. These programs provide first responders and survivors with medical monitoring and treatment for injuries and illnesses resulting from toxic exposures at ground zero.


January 25,2011

John Howard, MD
Director
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
395 E Street SW, Suite 9200
Patriots Plaza Building
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Dr. Howard:

As the primary sponsors of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, we were pleased the bill passed the 111th Congress and was signed into law by President Obama on January 2nd. We know implementing Title I of this new law will require considerable efforts by the Department of Health and Human Services as a whole, as well as by Secretary Sebelius and you personally. We recently met with the Secretary to share some of our concerns as the implementation process begins and to offer our support for her and the Department.

Since enactment, several responders and survivors have contacted our offices with questions and concerns regarding the implementation of the Act. Although regulations required under Title I of the Act are not due for several months, we request that you, as WTC Administrator, hold a public meeting in New York City to address some of these questions and concerns, and to explain how the Department plans to conduct the implementation process.

We look forward to working with you on the implementation of this important law, and hope you will be conducting a public meeting in New York City soon.

Sincerely,

CAROLYN B. MALONEY
JERROLD NADLER
PETER T. KING