Police, Firefighters Join Rep. Weiner to Call on Senate to Pass 9/11 Health Bill

Press Release

Today, outside FDNY Engine 294, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D -- Queens and Brooklyn), along with members of the New York City Uniformed Firefighters Association, Patrolman's Benevolent Association, Uniformed Fire Officers Association, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association, called on the Senate to pass the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which will provide health care to 9/11 first responders.

"Over nine years after the attack of September 11th, the heroes who responded to ground zero are dying by degrees every day," Weiner said. "They warrant not only our utmost gratitude, but also the health care they desperately need and are entitled to. After nine years, the House of Representatives finally did the right thing. Now it's up to the Senate to do its part."

The 9/11 Health and Compensation Act would provide free medical coverage to first responders who have developed illnesses after being exposed to toxic dust during the recovery and cleanup efforts at Ground Zero. According to the recent reports, more than 17,000 people have suffered from respiratory infections, lung cancer and other diseases as a result of the toxic air and dust.

The bill, named after James Zadroga, an NYPD detective and first responder who died from respiratory illness caused by exposure to toxic dust after the 9/11 attacks, passed the House last week by a vote of 268 to 160. Along with the bill's cosponsors, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Peter King and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Weiner was instrumental in securing the bill's passage in the House.

The 9/11 Health and Compensation Act must pass the Senate before it can become law, and President Obama has already has already expressed is intention to sign the bill when it arrives on his desk.

"Passage of the Zadroga Bill in the House of Representatives clears the first hurdle towards protecting thousands of first responders who are ill from their toxic exposure at the World Trade Center following the 9-11 attacks. The experts said cancers could not be expected before ten years and yet firefighters are already sick and dying in record numbers. America has a duty to these first responders to see this bill passed in the Senate and finally enacted into law," said Steve Cassidy, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association.

"There are seriously ill men and women who answered the call without question that have waited nine long years just to reach this point in the process. Tragically, we are only starting to see the effects, including rare and unusual cancers, caused by the toxic exposure from the attack," said PBA President Patrick J. Lynch. "It is imperative that the Senate pass this important bill as soon as possible so that these heroic people can get the help they need. We offer our deepest gratitude to all the Representatives in the house who voted to pass this bill and especially to Rep. Weiner for his passion and energy."

"This bill is long overdue," said SBA President Ed Mullins. "I hope the Senate will work quickly to get it enacted. We are very grateful to the bill's co-sponsors, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Jerrold Nadler and Rep. Peter King, as well as elected officials such as Rep. Anthony Weiner, who supported it from the beginning."

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