The 9/11 Health and Compensation Act

THE 9/11 HEALTH AND COMPENSATION ACT -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 11, 2008)

* Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, on September 11, 2001, America and the world watched in horror as our Nation came under ruthless attack. At the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon, thousands were killed by the cowardly deeds of terrorists. We heard the stories of those heroic passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who gave their lives so that they might save the lives of others by thwarting an attack on the United States Capitol.

* In lower Manhattan, part of my congressional district, New York's finest and bravest rushed to the disaster site. In the days and weeks after, countless Americans would also come to New York to offer their assistance. Nearly 3,000 people were killed at the World Trade Center, and countless others were wounded.

* Since then, we have made tremendous progress in rebuilding. But we still have work left to do. One of our greatest national responsibilities right now is to aid those people who are still suffering from 9/11--our first responders and rescue workers, local area workers, residents, students, and others who have become sick from the environmental aftermath of 9/11.

* When the buildings of the World Trade Center came crumbling down, nearly half a million pounds of lead, asbestos, glass fibers, steel, and concrete formed a massive cloud of toxic dust and smoke that blanketed parts of New York City and New Jersey. Fires burned for months, emitting a whole host of deadly substances. Scientists have said that this dust was as caustic as Drain-o, and that the air quality was worse than during the Kuwaiti oil fires.

* From the beginning, we warned that the air wasn't safe and that our courageous first responders were not being afforded the proper protection from dangerous toxins as they were toiling on the pile to rebuild. We spent years working to try to convince public officials that the asbestos, fiberglass and other toxins had travelled far and settled into the interiors of residences, workplaces and schools, and that a proper testing and cleanup program was required to eliminate the health risks to area residents, workers and students. We demanded that the Federal Government acknowledge the fact, supported by a mountain of peer-reviewed research, that thousands of our Nation's citizens are today sick from 9/11 and that many more could become sick in the future. We explained to whoever would listen that our 9/11 heroes were struggling to pay health care costs because they could no longer work and no longer had health insurance, and we have argued vigorously that the Federal response to date has been dangerously limited, piecemeal and unstable.

* Thankfully, we have achieved a much more widespread recognition of many of these problems. Now, 7 years after the attacks, it is imperative that Congress do what is right for our heroes and our living victims by passing H.R. 6594, the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

* Though the devastating 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center occurred within the bounds of my congressional district, we know that these were really attacks on our Nation as a whole--figuratively and literally. Every member in New York's downstate delegation represents hundreds, if not thousands, of people who live, work, attend school, or were otherwise present in the affected areas, and were exposed to a toxic brew of contamination. Indeed, every member in this House represents a State that has people in the World Trade Center Health Registry who were exposed and are concerned about their health.

* And as this is unquestionably a national problem, it has always required a national response. But despite our sustained efforts to get the Administration to develop a comprehensive plan to deal with this growing public health problem that they themselves now finally acknowledge, the New York delegation has instead found itself, year after year, coming to Congress with its ``hat in hand'' to test its luck at the annual appropriations process. Thankfully, with the outstanding bipartisan support of my colleagues for that funding, we have had some key successes. But this is simply no longer a tenable course of action.

* Passage of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act would mark an end to this unpredictable approach and ensure that a consistent source of funding is available to monitor, and if necessary, treat, the thousands of first responders, community members, and others already affected by WTC-related illnesses as well as those who are most likely to become sick in the future. And it would make sure that no matter where an affected individual were to live in the future, he or she could get care. Building on the expertise of the existing Centers of Excellence, the bill would fill key gaps in how we are currently providing treatment and monitoring. And finally, this legislation would provide an opportunity for compensation for economic damages and losses by reopening the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.

* On this anniversary of one of the most devastating days in our national consciousness, I thank members of Congress and the American people for coming to our aid after September 11th and in the years that followed. And once again, I implore you to pass the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

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