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Carolyn Daly Mario Cilento
NYC Central Labor Council NYS AFL-CIO
917-705-4740 914-261-4356 LABOR LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS RALLY AT GROUND ZERO IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO GUARANTEE LONG-TERM CARE AND COMPENSATION FOR ALL EXPOSED TO TOXIC DUST ON 9/11 NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 8, 2007 – Marking the observance of Labor Day and the sixth anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center, labor leaders, elected officials, first responders and community organizers today rallied in support of federal legislation that would provide comprehensive medical coverage and financial compensation for anyone exposed to the toxic dust and debris of Ground Zero. The New York City Central Labor Council, New York State AFL-CIO and New York Building & Construction Trades Council organized the massive rally to bring attention to the bi-partisan 9/11 Health and Compensation Act intended to be introduced on September 11, 2007 by Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Congressman Vito Fossella (R-NY). After nation’s unprecedented environmental catastrophe from the devastating effects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the federal response to the health crisis has been lacking because of federal funding delays, poor organization, and failure to respond properly or fully by the various federal health agencies. At the rally, labor and government leaders urged the passage of legislation offering a guaranteed right to the long-term, comprehensive medical monitoring, treatment and compensation for workers and all those exposed who are still suffering from the long-term health effects from the toxins of 9/11. Under the proposed bill, ground zero health programs would be included in the federal budget on a regular basis. The bill would include first responders and rescue workers, construction workers and volunteers who pitched in during the nine-month cleanup at Ground Zero. Residents, students, office workers and others who were in Lower Manhattan on 9/11 would also be eligible to receive health monitoring, treatment for conditions that can be linked to dust exposure, and compensation for jobs that were lost or other financial setbacks caused by those illnesses. All those exposed to the dust could be examined and, if needed, treated at several clinics, including the World Trade Center programs at Mount Sinai Medical Center and four other health care institutions in the New York region. In addition, a national network of health care providers would be established for those outside the New York area, building on the expertise of the Centers of Excellence (currently at the FDNY, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Bellevue Hospital, Queens College, SUNY Stony Brook, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey), which are providing high-quality health care to thousands of responders. The bill also calls for reopening the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, which provided over $6 billion to the families of those killed and injured on 9/11. Gary La Barbera, president of the New York City Central Labor Council said, “Labor has been at the forefront of this fight. This Labor Day, on behalf of the thousands of working people who gave so much for our country in the days, weeks and months following 9/11, the labor movement is proudly, strongly and in full solidarity rallying for a federal government guarantee to cover the long-term, comprehensive medical monitoring, treatment and compensation for workers and all those exposed who are still suffering from the long-term health effects. We will never forget those who gave their lives on 9/11. We will never forget those who lost their lives on 9/11. And we will never forget those who are still suffering from the effects of 9/11.”
Denis Hughes, President, New York State AFL-CIO said, “The time is now for a comprehensive, long term commitment from Washington that addresses the ongoing medical monitoring, compensation and treatment needs of our September 11th heroes. Six years is long enough. Until now, any funding we have received from the federal government has been on an emergency basis. Six years ago, these heroes showed the whole world how they respond to emergencies. Now it is our turn. We must pass federal legislation that ensures the long-term health and well-being of first responders and other workers suffering from the effects of September 11th. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) said, “"The heroes of 9/11 responded immediately when our country was attacked, but when these same heroes needed help, our government dragged its heels. Thousands are sick and that is a fact. Six years is long enough. I look forward to working with my friends Congressman Nadler and Congressman Fossella and the entire New York-area delegation to pass strong federal legislation to help 9/11 responders, lower Manhattan residents, and others cope with their illnesses and losses. The time to take action is long overdue." Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said, “I know I can always count on labor to help fight the good fight. This week, united by our friends in labor, we will be introducing essential, new legislation that builds upon the best ideas from prior approaches and on the infrastructure already in place providing critical treatment and monitoring. This bill ensures that everyone exposed to World Trade Center toxins -- no matter where they may live now or in the future -- would have a right to high-quality, comprehensive medical monitoring and treatment, and access to a re-opened Victim Compensation Fund. The NY State AFL-CIO has been a tremendous asset in helping to move this issue forward, and today's rally is a testament to labor's resolute commitment to ensure that our 9/11 heroes get the care and compensation they so rightly deserve.” Congressman Vito Fossella (R-NY) said, "We have a solemn responsibility to the unsung heroes of 9/11 who were exposed to the air over Ground Zero. These men and women risked their own lives and safety when New York and our nation needed them most. Everyone who was exposed should have access to monitoring and care -- regardless of whether they labored on the pile, lived or worked in the area or went to school nearby. Reports continue to underscore the need for a federal role to tackle the 9/11 health challenge. As we approach the sixth anniversary of 9/11, we must support our unsung heroes and make sure that they, too, are not forgotten." Speaker Christine C. Quinn said, "Six years ago this week, countless New Yorkers risked their lives helping strangers in need, in an overwhelming demonstration of the generosity that makes our City great. The least we can do in return is make sure they have access to monitoring and treatment for World Trade Center related illnesses. Organized labor has been a leader in the fight to secure health care for all responders. Only through sustained effort on every level will we reach a day when the Federal government fully fulfils its responsibility to these American heroes." Comptroller Bill Thompson said “Today, we honor the heroes of 9/11, and recognize the contributions of all working people and the labor movement for their selfless work to rebuild this great city.” The bill would also require the federal government to collect data about and research the extent and severity of WTC-related illnesses. Specifically, the legislation would establish and fund Coordinating Centers of Excellence to collect and analyze data, coordinate outreach, and develop medical monitoring and treatment protocols; and require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to conduct or support research about conditions that may be WTC-related, and about diagnosing and treating WTC-related conditions. # # # Summary of the Maloney-Nadler-Fossella 9/11 Health and Compensation Act In general, the Maloney-Nadler-Fossella bill would: · Ensure that everyone exposed to the Ground Zero toxins has a right to be medically monitored and all who are sick as a result have a right to treatment; · Build on the expertise of the Centers of Excellence, which are currently providing high-quality care to thousands of responders and ensuring on-going data collection and analysis; · Expand care to the entire exposed community, which includes residents, area workers and school children as well as the thousands of people from across the country who assisted with the recovery and clean-up effort; and · Provide compensation for economic damages by reopening the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Specifically, the Maloney-Nadler-Fossella bill would: Establish the World Trade Center Health Program, within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), to provide medical monitoring and treatment for WTC-related conditions to WTC Responders and WTC-area Residents and other non-responders, with no cost sharing. The program will be administered by the Director of NIOSH or his designee. The bill would also establish the WTC Health Program Steering Committee and the WTC Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee (Sec 101, 3001-3003). Define “Clinical Centers of Excellence” and “Coordinating Centers of Excellence” with which the program administrator enters into contracts (Sec 3006). Clinical Centers of Excellence provide monitoring and treatment. They are FDNY, all members of the Mt. Sinai coordinated consortium (currently Mt. Sinai, Queens College, SUNY Stony Brook, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey), the WTC Environmental Health Center at Bellevue Hospital, and other facilities identified by the program administrator in the future. Coordinating Centers of Excellence collect and analyze uniform data; coordinate outreach, and develop the medical monitoring and treatment protocols. They are FDNY, Mt. Sinai, and the WTC Environmental Health Center at Bellevue Hospital. Provide Monitoring and Treatment for WTC Responders in NY area: If a responder is determined to be eligible for monitoring based on the monitoring eligibility criteria provided for in the bill, then that responder has a right to medical monitoring that is paid for by the program. Once a responder is in monitoring, if the physician at a Clinical Center of Excellence diagnoses a condition that is on the list of presumed WTC-related health conditions in the bill, then that responder has a right to treatment for that condition that is paid for by the program. NIOSH reviews these determinations and provides certification of eligibility for ongoing treatment. The WTC program administrator may add a condition to the list of presumed WTC-related heath conditions, taking into account published findings and recommendations of the Clinical Centers of Excellence, with the input of the WTC Health program Steering Committee and the public. In addition, if the physician diagnoses a condition that is not on the current list of presumed conditions, and finds that the condition is at least as likely as not to be related to exposure at Ground Zero, then the program administrator, after review by an independent expert physician panel, can determine if the condition can be treated as a WTC-related condition (Sec 3011 & 3012). Provide Monitoring and Treatment for WTC Responders outside of NY area: The program administrator will establish a nationwide network of providers so that eligible responders who live outside of the NY area can reasonable access monitoring and treatment benefits near where they live (Sec 3013). Provide Monitoring and Treatment for the WTC area residents and other non-responders: Sets up the same framework for monitoring and treatment eligibility and benefits as for Responders in NY area, but provides for the program administrator and the WTC Environmental Health Center at Bellevue Hospital to develop the appropriate monitoring eligibility criteria and list of presumed WTC-related conditions, based on scientific and clinical evidence (Sec 3021 & 3022). Provide for Research into Conditions: In consultation with the Program Steering Committee and under all applicable privacy protections, HHS will conduct or support research about conditions that may be WTC-related, and about diagnosing and treating WTC-related conditions (Sec 3031). Extend support for NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene programs: NIOSH would extend and expand support for the World Trade Center Health Registry and provide grants for the mental health needs of individuals who are not otherwise eligible for services under this bill (Sec 3041). Reopen the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund to provide compensation for economic damages and loss for individuals who did not file before or became ill after the original December 22, 2003 deadline. The bill would allow for adjustment of previous awards if the Special Master of the fund determines the medical conditions of the claimant warrants an adjustment and amend eligibility rules so that responders to the 9/11 attacks who arrived later than the first 96 hours could be eligible if they experienced illness or injury from their work at the site (Sec 201-204).
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