Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today joined residents, families, workers, and first responders of the World Trade Center disaster to announce the introduction of the 9/11 Comprehensive Health Benefits Act. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will introduce a companion bill in the Senate.

"Mt. Sinai's alarming findings that 70% of the more than 9,000 first responders they studied are suffering adverse 9/11 health impacts confirm what we've known for a long time: we are facing a major health crisis as a result of the World Trade Center attacks," said Rep. Nadler. "The 9/11 Comprehensive Health Benefits Act provides for a sensible, easy-to-access, and cost-effective way to give comprehensive medical treatment to all individuals suffering from 9/11-related illnesses. And the legislation establishes a structure to support the coordination of screening, monitoring, treatment, and research, with a state-of-the-art clinic located downtown," he added.

The 9/11 Comprehensive Health Benefits Act would provide medical treatment and health care for those who need it and channel much needed federal resources and coordination to the institutions and programs that have been on the frontlines in this crisis. The bill has two major components:

It would extend Medicare benefits to individuals with adverse health or mental health conditions associated with exposure to the terrorist attacks – including first responders, rescue and recovery personnel, those accidentally caught in the cloud, as well as those who have resided, gone to school, or have been employed in a building that was exposed to hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants from the collapse of the World Trade Center – and cover their 9/11 health-related illnesses. All costs for such illnesses, including premiums, deductibles, and co-pays would be covered. For those with private insurance, Medicare would provide supplemental coverage for these 9/11-related conditions to ensure complete care. 2. It would establish a consortium of institutions, practitioners, and community-based organizations that would comprise the Federal government’s primary mechanism for screening, monitoring, testing and research for 9/11 health conditions. As part of establishing the consortium, the federal government would also be responsible for setting up a state-of-the-art clinical facility in Lower Manhattan focused on 9/11 health.

"The Federal, State, and City governments are clearly culpable for recklessly allowing thousands of people to be exposed to environmental toxins in the days following 9/11," continued Congressman Nadler. "And yet, we are seeing 9/11 victims struggling to pay health care costs with inadequate or no insurance, a horrendous number of worker's compensation claims rejected, and a government still failing to test and clean up apartments, workspaces and schools, which would prevent more people from getting sick."

The legislation would build upon and support existing public and private efforts, including the City’s recently announced initiatives. Congressman Nadler said, "Even with the Bloomberg plan, there is still no way for the 9/11-affected populations to receive the comprehensive, long-term health care treatment they need to treat illnesses caused by exposure to the toxic dust and debris, because that effort is limited in time, scope, and resources, and many of the illnesses will be late-onset and chronic." He added, "The 9/11 Comprehensive Health Benefits Act would provide such care, with no additional financial burden to the City and State.