As Zadroga Act expires, Reps. Maloney and Nadler join doctors and responders urging congress to make law permanent First responders suffering with cancers, respiratory problems, and other illnesses will die if 9/11 health and compensation programs are not reauthorized

Statement

Today, first responders Alex Sanchez and Manuel Checo and medical professionals Dr. Michael A. Crane and Dr. Philip Landrigan joined Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), to stress the urgent need for Congress to permanently extend the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Maloney and Nadler are leading the effort in the House with Congressman Peter King (NY-2). The World Trade Center Health Program began shutting down September 30, and will shut down completely by October 2016. If Congress doesn't act by then, more than 70,000 9/11 responders and survivors in all 50 states will lose the health care, medical monitoring and support they need to recover from 9/11 related illnesses.

"We should all be ashamed that Congress allowed the Zadroga Act to expire without taking any action to pass a permanent reauthorization," said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. "If Congress continues to drag its feet, tens of thousands of first responders and survivors, not only in New York but across the country, will lose access to life-saving medical care. Thousands of people who depended on awards from the Victims Compensation Fund to support their families when they are gone will only get pennies on the dollar. Congress must act to reauthorize the Zadroga Act and live up to the promise we have made each of the last fourteen years to never forget the heroes of 9/11."

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