Washington, DC--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) issued the following statement in response to the announcement from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer that the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act will come to the House floor next week for a vote.  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 members who are currently sick and receiving treatment.

“I call on members of both parties to cast a yes vote on this bill, with no procedural trickery and no poison pill amendments.  Our 9-11 workers have suffered long enough.  The first responders, volunteers and local residents have dealt with illness and death for nine years and counting.  It is an embarrassment that we continue to leave the growing list of sick 9-11 survivors on their own.  Hopefully, that ends next week,” said Rep. Engel, the senior New York Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, and co-sponsor of the legislation.

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