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, issued the following joint statement on the announcement today by Special Master Sheila Birnbaum that the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is now open for business:

“Today, we are putting into practice an important part of the Zadroga law so that it can begin helping people.  Getting the VCF up and running is a crucial step toward meeting America’s moral responsibility to help those injured as a result of 9/11.  We are delighted that this day has finally arrived, and that struggling 9/11 responders and survivors will soon be able to apply for the economic relief they and their families so urgently need.

“Ms. Birnbaum has done a great job setting up the VCF in a timely manner and in seeking input from 9/11 responders and survivors to make the program better.   We will continue working to create the most compassionate and efficient program possible for those injured by the toxins at ground zero.”

The VCF’s website, https://www.vcf.gov/, will enable claimants to register for the VCF online, the first step in the claims process; obtain a checklist of documents and information that claimants will need when they submit their claims; and review a list of frequently-asked questions, which will be updated regularly, and is designed to make the process as simple as possible.

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 VCF to provide economic relief to those harmed by the attacks (the original VCF was created in the weeks following 9/11 and closed in December 2003). 

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 the four documents:

• A Q&A on eligibility for health and compensation benefits under the Zadroga Act;
• A timeline of dates by which the new law will be implemented;
• A brief, plain-language summary of the law; and
• A section-by-section summary of the law.

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