Reps. Maloney and Nadler: Judiciary Committee bill shortchanges 9/11 responders and survivors

Statement

"For the past 14 years we have devoted our time and energy to protecting the health and well-being of the heroes of September 11, 2001. Five years ago, along with our colleague from New York, Rep. Peter King, we were proud to pass the James Zadroga Act on behalf of 9/11 first responders and survivors. We knew at the time that five years would never be adequate to answer the sacrifices of those heroes. That is why, this year, together with countless advocacy organizations, we authored legislation to make these programs permanent and ensure that no one who risked everything that fateful day would be forgotten.

"A bill to permanently extend and fully fund the health and compensation programs for injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors currently has 237 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and 61 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate. Instead of taking up this bipartisan legislation, which would clearly pass the House, a new bill was drafted and introduced with no bipartisan support or input from advocacy organizations -- including the firefighters, police, and survivors the bill is intended to help -- experts in the area, or even the members of Congress who have been fighting for this legislation for the past 14 years. None of us were consulted on drafting the legislation or notified that it would be introduced.

"The proposal attempting to extend the Victim Compensation Fund for only five years is deeply flawed, and could result in current claimants seeing their awards cut by as much as 60 percent. We cannot tell those who have been out of work for years because of their injuries, or the widows and children of those who have died, that the money they were promised could be cut by more than half. That is not how Congress should treat American heroes.

"While we welcome the interest of the Committee Majority, this bill falls far short of our commitment to 9/11 first responders and survivors. We must permanently and properly reauthorize these programs to ensure we live up to our promise to never forget."

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