WASHINGTON, D.C. — First responders and survivors suffering from 9/11 related illnesses are at risk of losing access to health care as soon as 2024. That's why, ahead of the 21st Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) led a group of Republican cosponsors of the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act, in urging House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) to bring the legislation up for a full committee mark-up. H.R. 4965 would address a funding shortfall in the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and ensure its adequate funding now and in the future.
Rep. Garbarino, the Republican lead on this bill, was joined by Representatives Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), John Katko (R-NY), Chris Jacobs (R-NY), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), BrianFitzpatrick (R-PA), Dan Meuser (R-PA), Dave Joyce (R-OH), and Rodney Davis (R-IL). This letter follows a previous letter, sent eight weeks ago, during which time zero movement on this legislation has taken place.
The Members wrote in part, "In July, we, Republican cosponsors of this legislation, sent you a letter urging you to work with us in a bipartisan manner to find a pay-for and bring forth H.R. 4965 for a full committee mark-up. As we noted then, if Congress does not quickly address this impending crisis, then the men and women who put their lives on the line and who survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks will lose health coverage to treat the physical and mental illnesses that they sustained on that fateful day. In the eight weeks since this last letter, no action has been taken to move H.R. 4965 forward within the committee, despite broad bipartisan support and the looming funding deficit.
"Congress has a responsibility to uphold our promises," the Members continued. "We implore you not to turn a blind eye to the hardship 9/11 responders and survivors are facing and urge you to move this critical legislation forward without further delay."
Today, the WTCHP provides medical treatment and monitoring for over 117,000 responders and survivors from the World Trade Center and lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, and the Shanksville, PA crash site, who live in every state and in 434 out of 435 Congressional Districts.
The full text of the letter can be found here and below:
Dear Chairman Pallone:
As the 21st anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks approaches, we write to once again urge you to prioritize the heroes who put their lives in danger on that fateful day and bring forth H.R. 4965, the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act, for a full committee mark-up during this upcoming legislative work period.
As you are aware, the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) is facing an impending funding shortfall due to a rise in medical costs and cancer rates over the last three years. The WTCHP is rapidly approaching a deficit in funding that will force the program to have to ratchet down spending and bar any new sick responders or survivors by October 2024. H.R. 4965 not only addresses the current funding shortfall directly, but also ensures adequate funding for years to come.
In July, we, Republican cosponsors of this legislation, sent you a letter urging you to work with us in a bipartisan manner to find a pay-for and bring forth H.R. 4965 for a full committee mark-up. As we noted then, if Congress does not quickly address this impending crisis, then the men and women who put their lives on the line and who survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks will lose health coverage to treat the physical and mental illnesses that they sustained on that fateful day. In the eight weeks since this last letter, no action has been taken to move H.R. 4965 forward within the committee, despite broad bipartisan support and the looming funding deficit.
Congress created the WTCHP with the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Today, the WTCHP provides medical treatment and monitoring for over 117,000 first responders and survivors who reside in every single state and all but one congressional district. For them, the consequences of September 11, 2001 continue to reverberate to this day.
Congress has a responsibility to uphold our promises. We implore you not to turn a blind eye to the hardship 9/11 responders and survivors are facing and urge you to move this critical legislation forward without further delay. We appreciate your attention to this matter and welcome a quick resolution to this time-sensitive issue.
Sincerely, ### |
