Washington, DC -- Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) released the following statement after both the Senate and the House passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.  The Senate passed amendments to the House-passed bill earlier today, and the House passed the revised bill.  The legislation now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign it into law.

Rep. Engel is a long-time supporter of the legislation and an original co-sponsor.  He is the senior New York Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and shepherded the bill through the Health Subcommittee and the full Committee before the final vote in the House this past September.  This measure will provide needed help to the many thousands exposed to toxins at Ground Zero including 16,000 first responders, and at least 2,700 community residents who are sick and receiving treatment as a result of their work at Ground Zero.

“Finally.  The heroes of 9-11 have had their voices heard and legislation helping treat the thousands of brave first responders will become law.  When the World Trade Center was hit, and America attacked on 9-11, first responders and volunteers did not ask what their future would hold.  They did not ask if they would become sick and prematurely die as a result of their bravery.  They did what was right, and they did their patriotic duty.  Far too many have paid the ultimate price for their desire to stand tall for their country in its darkest hour. 

“For far too long their pleas for help since 9-11 have fallen upon deaf ears.   It is shameful that we are approaching the 10-year anniversary of 9-11 next year, and that months after the House passed the bill to help treat the 9-11-based illnesses, we still had not gotten a bill through the Senate.  It is very disappointing that some Senators decided to play politics with this issue and squeeze our dying heroes for two billion dollars, only a few days after gladly handing hundreds of billions of dollars to the richest Americans.  I never want to hear any of them ever use 9-11 and its first responders for political gain ever again.

“I am unsure when over the last nine years that it became New York’s responsibility to care for 9-11 first responders.  If I recall correctly, in 2001 it was America who was attacked.  The Heroes of 9-11 were rightfully praised by everyone in the country, Democratic and Republican.  When did it shift from a national priority, to as some Republicans have claimed, to a New York issue?  Regardless, I know that this New Yorker is more than proud to have worked hard with my colleagues in the New York delegation to fight for the first responders, even when it seemed that too many others had forgotten about them.  They risked their lives on that infamous day, and too many of them lost their lives as result, and it is an honor to have done this work in Washington on their behalf.

“The fight for this legislation is now over, but the battle for these thousands of first responders is still ongoing.  Their health issues continue, but at least they can now say that their Congress is with them.  I am proud to have been able to give them this gift this holiday season, and my only wish is that it could have been done years ago in order to have saved even more lives.”

This legislation would provide medical monitoring and treatment to victims exposed at Ground Zero.  It provides for research into their 9/11 triggered health conditions.  It will also re-open the 9-11 Victim Compensation Fund for economic losses and harm, instead of the current litigation system.   The legislation would also cover medical monitoring for those community residents who lived, worked, or were present within a 1.5 mile radius of the World Trade Center that day. 

The agreement between Senate Democrats and Republicans reduces the bill’s cost from $6.2 billion to $4.2 billion to treat workers' injuries and illnesses resulting from exposure to toxic dust and debris at Ground Zero. A portion of the funds would go toward reopening the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.  It also limits access to the health treatment program and compensation fund to five years per person, down from the 10 years permitted in the House-passed bill, and caps attorneys' fees at 10 percent of a total award.

Rep. Engel added, “It is only appropriate that the last measure approved by the 111th Congress is one of its most important achievements.” 

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