It’s been over two decades since the deadliest terrorist attack in our nation’s history, and it’s shameful that far too many first responders, along with widows, widowers, and children of 9/11 victims continue to wait for the justice they so rightfully deserve.
Twenty-one years ago today, our city and country witnessed a horrific display of terrorism on American soil. Nearly 3,000 killed, more than 6,000 injured, and thousands more have succumbed to 9/11-related illness. Today, we’re reminded of our promise to ‘Never Forget’ those who perished on that fateful day. To me, that promise also extends to victims’ families, survivors, and law enforcement alike.
Tens of thousands of first responders who rushed to the front lines to search for survivors and help our city recover are now battling brutal illnesses as a result of toxic exposure at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, PA. These heroes are forced to live with those horrific events every single day, and unfortunately, the World Trade Center Health Program’s (WTCHP) looming $3 billion budget shortfall is putting their health care coverage at immediate risk.
As of last year, roughly 74% of those enrolled in the WTCHP had been diagnosed with at least one physical or mental health condition directly linked to 9/11, including 20% with cancer and 28% with a mental health condition. If no action is taken, first responders and survivors in every state and all but one congressional district could lose their health care coverage, and any new sick first responders or survivors would be barred from enrolling in the WTCHP by October 2024.
Thankfully, we have a solution.
I’ve joined my colleagues – both Democrats and Republicans – in cosponsoring The 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Fund Correction Act, legislation that secures adequate funding streams to rectify the WTCHP’s budget deficit so it can continue to provide no-cost medical treatment and monitoring for over 117,000 9/11 first responders and survivors. While the introduction of this legislation is a step in the right direction, it’s now up to Speaker Pelosi to bring this bill forward for a full committee mark-up and formal vote – something my colleagues and I have repeatedly called for.
It’s been over two decades since the deadliest terrorist attack in our nation’s history, and it’s shameful that far too many first responders, along with widows, widowers, and children of 9/11 victims continue to wait for the justice they so rightfully deserve.
In 2015, the United States Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSST) was established to compensate people injured in acts of international state-sponsored terrorism. While $3.3 billion was paid through the fund between 2017 and 2020 primarily with assets seized from state sponsors of terrorism, certain 9/11 spouses and dependents were wrongfully excluded from the fund up until 2019. These individuals have received less than .01% of their allocated payments and I’ve made it my mission in Congress to right this solemn wrong.
Last month, I introduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure roughly 5,364 widows, widowers, and dependent children initially excluded from the USVSST are equitably compensated for their unimaginable losses, putting them on par with other victim groups. This is something President Biden has the power to do right now with the $3.5 billion seized from the Afghanistan Central Bank.
As New Yorkers, we know how crucial it is to uphold our promise to “Never Forget” for the victims and their families, while also remaining focused on keeping America safe and stopping terrorist organizations from striking our nation’s heart ever again.
Although 21 years have passed, the pain we experienced while terrorists unleashed deadly and calculated destruction across our country has not faded. I will not stop fighting until every survivor, every family member left behind, and every first responder who dropped everything to put our country back together receives the highest-quality health care and compensation they deserve.
You have my word – I am determined to see this mission through.