Letter to The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Letter

The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt
Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, S . W.
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We write in response to the recent resignation of Dr. John Agwunobi as Assistant Secretary for Health. As part of his duties, Dr. Agwunobi served as the chair of the World Trade Center (WTC) Task Force. We would urge you to use the occasion of his departure to evaluate the work of the WTC Task Force and take action to address the pressing health care needs of those experiencing 911 1-related illnesses.

As stated in an April 27,2007 letter to you - to which we have yet to receive a response - it is our understanding that on April 3,2007, the WTC Task Force chaired by Dr. Agwunobi presented its recommendations to you regarding the federal government's plan to treat and monitor individuals whose health was compromised by the toxins of Ground Zero. With the sixth anniversary of the 911 1 attacks fast approaching, we are deeply concerned that Dr. Agwunobi resigned before your department finalized this plan and released it to Congress and the American people. We are likewise concerned that you
have yet to announce Dr. Agwunobi's replacement to lead the WTC Task Force.

The number of ailing 911 1 rescue and recovery workers is increasing, workers' illnesses are becoming more severe, the projected cost of treating these illnesses is surging, and current federal treatment funding levels are likely inadequate. Given the urgency of this situation, we ask that you meet with us as soon as possible to answer the following questions:

1) What is your timeline for naming a new chair of the WTC Task Force?

2) What is the timeline for your department to develop a plan to address the
monitoring and treatment needs of those exposed to the toxins at Ground Zero? When will such plan be made available to Congress and the public?

Once again, we ask that you schedule a meeting with us as soon as possible to answer these questions and to help ensure that federally-funded 911 1 health treatment and monitoring programs have the resources they need to provide appropriate, long-term support to those affected by World Trade Center exposures.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer Hillary Rodham Clinton
United States Senator United States Senator

Carolyn B. Maloney Jerrold Nadler Vito Fossella
Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress

Frank Pallone, Jr. Christopher Shays Edolphus Towns
Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress