Maloney's Bill Addresses Health Impacts of 9/11
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Several days before yesterday's observance of the sixth anniversary of the World Trade Center atrocity, Congressmember Carolyn Maloney announced the introduction of sweeping and comprehensive legislation to address the mounting impacts of that attack.

Maloney, who has persistently sought to help heal those first responders who became seriously ill cleaning up at Ground Zero, declared: "This bill will help thousands of Americans who are suffering as a direct result of an act of war."

She said she would be joined by Congressmembers Jerrold Nadler (D- Manhattan) and Vito Fossella (R- C, Staten Island) in sponsoring "this truly bipartisan legislation".

Describing the bill's provisions, Maloney said that it would "ensure that everyone exposed to the toxins at Ground Zero has a right to be medically monitored and anyone who is sick as a result has a right to treatment".

The legislation, which is strongly supported by the New York state AFL-CIO, would "expand care to the whole community," Maloney explained, "including residents, area workers and students, and to thousands of people who came from across the country to respond to the 9/11 attack."

In addition, she said, "[The bill] would provide compensation for economic damages and losses by reopening the 9/11 Victim's Compensation Fund."

This specific provision drew support from a prominent lawmaker, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who visited Ground Zero last week.

Pelosi (D- California), whose support is critically important if the bill is to pass, said she believes the government must do more to assist those who became sick in working on the Ground Zero cleanup.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg also supports the reopening of the fund, as does lawyer Kenneth Feinberg, former special master and administrator of the fund. Both said it would help those whose illnesses didn't become apparent until after the fund expired in 2003.

Maloney said enactment of the bill would build on the expertise of the Centers of Excellence (currently at the New York Fire Department, Mount Sinai Hospital, Bellevue Hospital, Queens College, SUNY Stony Brook and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey), all of which are providing high quality health care to thousands of responders.

The bill would also require the federal government to collect data about and research the extent and severity of WTC-related illnesses, Maloney said. Specifically, the legislation would establish and fund Coordinating Centers of Excellence to collect and analyze data, coordinate outreach and develop medical monitoring and treatment programs and require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to conduct or support research about conditions that may be WTC-related and about diagnosing and treating WTC-related conditions.

"It is simply not enough to honor the courage and humanity of the heroes of 9/11 with words," said Nadler. "We must also offer them concrete support in their time of need."