Maloney, Fossella Join 9/11 Responders & Labor Leaders in Calling For More Comprehensive Gov't Response To 9/11 Health Impacts

Maloney, Fossella Join 9/11 Responders & Labor Leaders in Calling For More Comprehensive Gov't Response To 9/11 Health Impacts

Today, hundreds of Ground Zero rescue and recovery workers, organized by the New York State AFL-CIO, the New York City Central Labor Council, the Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes Foundation and the Sierra Club held a rally at the former World Trade Center site to call for a more comprehensive government response to the health impacts of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. At the rally, U.S. Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens) and Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island, Brooklyn), along with a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and House members from throughout the tri-state area, released a letter requesting that President Bush meet with Ground Zero responders and Members of Congress to discuss how the federal government can better assist those who are sick as a result of 9/11.

"The heroes of 9/11 are America at its best, but the way they've been treated is shameful," said Congresswoman Maloney. "We're asking the President himself to step into the fight against this growing health crisis. Our goal is simple: health monitoring for everyone exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero and treatment for anyone who's sick. We owe it to future generations of heroes to make sure that in America, we take care of those who take care of us."

"With the restoration of the $125 million and the appointment of Dr. Howard, we've made a tremendous amount of progress in just six months. However, the health impacts of 9/11 remain great, and the need for additional monitoring and treatment will likely only grow in the years ahead. The 9/11 heroes who dug through the rubble to find those who were lost and who cleared the site of debris now face their own medical challenges. We have a responsibility to provide them with the resources to get well and to ensure there is a comprehensive plan in place to help those who may fall sick in the future," said Congressman Fossella.

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