More than a decade after Congress first created it, the World Trade Center Health Program is facing a funding shortfall.
Now, New Yorkers are asking Congress for an additional $2 billion in funding, threatening services for tens of thousands of people who are on the line.
What you need to know
- New Yorkers are asking Congress to get an additional $2 billion in funding for the World Trade Center Health Program
- The legislation, which a bipartisan group of lawmakers formally introduced Tuesday, also seeks to fix a problem with the original law that excluded some responders at the Pentagon and Shanksville 9-11 crash sites from receiving aid.
- Advocates warn that if Congress does not act on this additional $2 billion measure, the program may have to stop enrolling new people starting in 2028
- “Look inside, do the right thing. Support this legislation and help us meet our commitments,” said Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a Long Island Republican.
They say, ‘Why do you need more money?’ How simple: because more people get sick,” said Senator Charles Schumer.
Schumer and his fellow New Yorker, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, are among those leading efforts to secure additional funding.
They joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Tuesday to formally introduce legislation that addresses the shortfall in the program, which monitors and treats illnesses suffered by those exposed to toxic dust and debris from the collapse of the Twin Towers.
.@SenGilibrand, @SenSchumer, @RepDesposito, @RepGarbarino, @RepDanGoldman, @RepJerryNadler and others introduce a bill to close the funding gap in the World Trade Center Health Program.
It also ensures exempt Pentagon and Shanksville responders can participate. pic.twitter.com/U0LIjvOUE9
— Kevin Frey (@KevinFreyTV) February 28, 2023
The shortage is the result of rising costs and participation levels that exceed previous projections.
The legislation also seeks to fix a problem with the original law that excluded some responders at the Pentagon and Shanksville 9-11 crash sites from receiving help.
One of those individuals is Nate Coward, who worked on debris removal and recovery efforts at the Pentagon. He joined lawmakers at the news conference on Capitol Hill.
“In 2021, the World Trade Center Health Program informed me that they intended to disenroll me from the program because they had made a mistake,” Coward said. “Under the program, some active duty military — like me — and some civilians are not eligible to sign up.”
Congress appropriated $1 billion for the health program last year. However, advocates warn that if Congress does not act on this additional $2 billion measure, the program may have to stop enrolling new people starting in 2028.
Long Island Republican Congressman Andrew Garbarino is leading the push in the House.
“To my colleagues in both the House and the Senate: look inside, do the right thing. Support this legislation and help us fulfill our commitments,” said Garbarino. “The time for action is now.”
The health program is separated from September 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), which compensates persons injured or ill as a result of the 2001 terrorist attacks and their aftermath. The families of the deceased can also apply for financial assistance
A 2019 law ensures that the VCF fund will have money for decades.
