Big Boost in Federal 9/11 Health Care Takes Another Step Forward in Congress

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Vito Fossella (R-NY), Co-Chairs of the Congressional 9/11 Health Caucus, applauded the House Committee on Appropriations for passing its FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill, which includes $50,000,000 for federally-funded 9/11 health clinics. The report language for the "Labor-HHS" appropriations bill also calls on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to deliver its long-awaited plan to deliver health monitoring to everyone exposed to Ground Zero toxins and health treatment to anyone who is sick as a result. While the bill's report language is not binding, it is an important and powerful tool for Congress to obtain information from the Administration.

The "Labor-HHS" appropriations measure will come to the House floor for a vote next week. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey (D-WI) and a bipartisan group of Appropriations Committee members from New York - including Nita Lowey, James Walsh, José Serrano, Maurice Hinchey and Steve Israel - helped move the legislation forward.

"The much-needed funding and demand for a federal health care plan contained in this bill will go a long way toward meeting our national obligation to care for those who are sick or injured as a result of 9/11," said Maloney. "I am deeply grateful for Chairman Obey's dedication to fighting this growing health crisis. I hope that this bill will spur the Administration to match Congress's leadership on behalf of the thousands of Americans whose health was compromised by terrorist attacks on our country."

Fossella said, "This funding is key to ensuring that the unsung heroes of 9/11 have access to the care they need. Congress is also calling on the federal government to finalize a plan to monitor and treat all those who are sick or injured as a result of the terror attacks."

Source