Public Employee Press

Hillary helps win funds for 9/11 heroes

The heroes of 9/11 — rescue and recovery employees and volunteers, area workers and residents, including many DC 37 members — got some good news from Washington late last year. On Dec. 26, the omnibus appropriations bill passed by Congress became law. The bill includes $108 million in federal funding for the health needs of people who were exposed to the environmental hazards released in lower Manhattan Sept. 11, 2001.

“I am so proud that this critically-needed funding is finally on the way to those who need it,” said Sen. Hillary Clinton, who played a leading role in winning the appropriation.

“Thousands of responders, residents, workers and others continue to suffer the devastating health effects of 9/11. This funding will help sustain the 9/11 health programs while we work on a bipartisan, long-term solution,” she said.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, along with Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler and Vito Fossella joined Sen. Clinton in the push to pass the bill in Congress.

“I am glad the president has finally approved the health care funding for first responders exposed to toxins at Ground Zero,” said Congress member Maloney. “For the first time, funding can go to help lower Manhattan residents, workers, and students.”

The new funding will go toward monitoring and treatment programs administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Current programs include the centers in the Mount Sinai Consortium and the program run by the Fire Dept. The Occupational & Environmental Medicine Clinic at Bellevue Hospital is a participating clinical center in the Mount Sinai Medical Monitoring Program and will get a portion of the new funds.

“We still need more money,” said DC 37 Safety and Health Director Lee Clarke. “We need legislation to guarantee long-term funding for this monitoring and treatment program.”

The money in the omnibus appropriations bill builds on the $50 million that was provided in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act that was signed into law last year, bringing the total to $158 million.