Updated 9/11 Health and Compensation Act Introduced in House

Washington, D.C. – Today, New York Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Vito Fossella, Peter King, Charles Rangel, Eliot Engel, Edolphus Towns, and Anthony Weiner introduced an updated version of their bipartisan 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.  The new bill (H.R. 6594) will provide medical monitoring to those exposed to the toxic aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks, and treatment and compensation to those who are sick or injured as a result.  Generally, the updates to the bill would help reduce the cost of providing 9/11-related health care and compensation.  Click here for a summary of the changes.

After conferring with Speaker Pelosi and the leadership of both committees of jurisdiction, the New York lawmakers decided that changes were needed to sharpen the scope of the proposal and make it more likely that the House could consider the bill by the 7th anniversary of 9/11.

Following the introduction of the revised bill, Maloney, Nadler, Fossella, and King issued the following joint statement:

“This bill is our best attempt, working with the City of New York, the AFL-CIO, and the local community, to put forth a bill that the House could approve by the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  The sensible changes in our updated bill will help reduce costs while upholding our nation’s moral responsibility to provide medical monitoring to those exposed to Ground Zero toxins, treatment to all who are sick, and compensation to those who sustained economic losses because of 9/11.  We urge our colleagues to help us pass this bill and ensure a strong federal response to the public health disaster caused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.”

The House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health announced it will hold a hearing on the updated bill next Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in room 2322 Rayburn House Office Building.

For a summary of the new legislation with changes from original bill, click here.

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