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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) released a statement following the finalization of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which includes much needed funding to address the shortfall in the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). Specifically, this legislation will provide $444 million to address the WTCHP funding gap and $232 million to extend coverage for military and civilian 9/11 responders at the Pentagon and Shanksville, PA.
"I am incredibly proud of the work Senator Gillibrand and I did to ensure $676 million in funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) was included in the final version of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)," said Rep. Garbarino. "This funding will go a long way towards addressing the impending shortfall and ensuring that, in addition to those at Ground Zero, all survivors and first responders who ran towards danger at the Pentagon and in Shanksville receive the care that they deserve. I thank Speaker Mike Johnson for keeping the promise he made to me to stand behind our 9/11 first responders and survivors. Speaker Johnson upheld his commitment and worked closely with me to make certain the proposed funding amount was included. I, along with Congressman D’Esposito who is a critical partner in working to address the shortfall, will continue to fight for all those impacted by 9/11-related illnesses. We will not rest until the WTCHP is fully funded for all who need it."
Background
Rep. Garbarino and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are the lead sponsors of the bipartisan, bicameral 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2023. Congress established the WTCHP on a bipartisan basis in 2011 with a five-year authorization to provide medical treatment and monitoring for 9/11 responders and survivors suffering from the effects of the toxins at Ground Zero. The program covers the lifespans of all exposed, including responders and survivors of the attack on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, the Shanksville crash site, children who were in schools in downtown Manhattan on 9/11 and during clean-up, and those who have since experienced or are expected to experience, adverse health effects that are linked to the attacks in the coming years. The program was reauthorized in 2015 and extended through 2090 with bipartisan support. In 2022, lawmakers delivered $1 billion for the program in the end-of-year spending bill. Unfortunately, this funding is not enough to keep pace with the anticipated costs of providing the program’s services for over 120,000 9/11 responders and survivors, who span all fifty states and 434 of the 435 congressional districts.
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