Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today applauded Senator Hillary Clinton for her continuing work to ensure that an EPA-initiated panel provides a fair, comprehensive and expeditious review of the environmental conditions that resulted from the collapse of the World Trade Center, and her insistence that a simultaneous testing and cleanup program be commenced.

"I thank Hillary Clinton for her continued efforts to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency fulfills its federally mandated responsibility to properly clean indoor spaces following a terrorist attack," said Nadler. "It has been over two years since the terrorist attacks and the EPA has yet to adequately respond to protect public health. The victims of the terrorist attack deserve action, not delay. The EPA's own Inspector General already reviewed the situation and made common-sense recommendations. I have concerns about a panel chaired by EPA, but I hope that Senator Clinton can use this panel to bring about action and get the EPA to adopt the recommendations in the IG Report."

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, Nadler questioned the EPA's public assurances when it said "the air is safe to breathe," and that New Yorkers "need not be concerned about environmental issues as [we] return to [our] homes and workplaces. Nadler issued a White Paper detailing the EPA's wrongdoing after September 11, including its failed clean-up of indoor spaces, and called for Department of Justice and Congressional investigations into the matter.

"I will continue to call on the EPA to follow its own Inspector General's recommendations to properly test and clean all indoor spaces that were contaminated with World Trade Center dust. Only by the rigorous testing and cleanup advocated by the Inspector General will we ensure that the health and lives of New Yorkers are protected."