Fire unions livid as funding for 9/11 health fund excluded from federal budget, funds in jeopardy
Fire unions and advocates are calling out congress for failing to secure the funding for the 9/11 victim’s healthcare program after their agreement to keep the government open.
Budget negotiations in congress have resulted in the failure to fund the WTC Healthcare program — which provides financial aid to 125,000 people who became ill years after coming into contact with toxins at disaster sites in New York, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa.
The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act passed in 2010, was reauthorized in 2015, and up until days ago was thought to be permanently funded until the end of the planned end of the program in the year 2090.
The bill was passed and reauthorized with bipartisan support.
Now, due to budget negotiations in congress, the program’s funding is at risk.
“There are thousands of New York City firefighters and other people related to the cleanup that have been diagnosed with cancer, and the numbers will continue to rise with no end in sight,” said James Brosi, President of the Uniformed FIre Officers Association, in a press release.
“We continue to lose NYC Firefighters to 9/11 related illnesses every month, and the need for funds to care for the sick and dying continues. We call on Congress to act and pass the permanent funding for the WTC Healthcare Program,” Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro wrote in the press release.
Governor Kathy Hochul is also livid at the disheartening development.
“‘Never forget’ aren’t just words in New York. They’re a promise. One the @HouseGOP broke tonight when they cut health care for 9/11 first responders from the government funding bill.,” the New York governor wrote on X, adding, “Get back into the Capitol and do. Your. Job.”
A spokesperson for Senator Schumer, who helped secure the permanent funding for the program, said Chuck will keep fighting for the heroes of 9/11.
“Chuck will work to find another opportunity to get it done — and ideally that will be an effort Republican members of Congress will work with him on,” the spokesperson said, adding that President Trump and Elon Musk are to blame for the impending threat to the program.
Advocates are also sounding off about the need for heroes being forced to beg the federal government for financial obligations that have already been promised.
“First responders who have suffered serious and life-threatening injuries and illnesses by reason of their exposure to the toxins at Ground Zero should not have to walk the halls of Congress, hat in hand, to ensure there is adequate funding for the medical treatment promised to them by the federal government,” Nicholas Papain, Esq., a 9/11 victims advocate said in the press release.
Several FDNY unions and members of the department will hold an emergency press conference Sunday at 124 Liberty Street — the firehouse adjacent to the World Trade Center.