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Follow on Google News | Clinton, Schumer, Nadler, Maloney and Fossella Welcome CDC's First Step to Provide 9/11 Health CareSenators Hillary Clinton &Charles Schumer, Representatives Jerrold Nadler, Carolyn Maloney & Vito Fossella welcomed the Dept. of Health and Human Services's decision to fund and provide health care to those adversely affected by the 9/11 attacks.
By: Rena Silverman Last year, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which included $108 million to address the mounting health needs of first responders, residents, area workers, students, and others who were exposed to environmental hazards released as a result of the attacks on 9/11. However, the Bush Administration has been dragging its feet in releasing any of this funding to the local community until now. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be issuing a request for proposals to provide medical monitoring and treatment to sick community members who have not yet received any federal funding. “While this action is long overdue on the Administration’ “This is a much needed change of course from an Administration that has turned a blind eye to the needs of non-responders who are suffering the crippling health effects of the 9/11 attacks,” said Senator Schumer. “This long overdue funding is a very good start but must only be the beginning of a long-term commitment to help responders and residents, workers, students and others affected by 9/11 and its aftermath.” “This funding is long overdue, but I am hopeful that CDC will quickly begin providing for the health care of the thousands of area residents, workers, students, and others who became sick as a result of 9/11,” said Rep. Nadler. “Congress specifically directed the CDC to provide for the health of everyone whose health was undermined by the environmental impacts of 9/11, and my colleagues and I have fought tooth and nail to see that these people were provided with the care they need. As we approach the 7th anniversary of 9/11, I am relieved that the Bush Administration has given up their stall tactics and finally begun to release this funding.” “Nearly seven years after 9/11, we finally have the first baby step toward providing care for area residents, workers, and others sickened by the attacks,” said Rep. Maloney. “However, it’s unclear who will administer this program since the administration just fired its 9/11 health czar simply for doing his job. Delays and unanswered questions have been the only constants in this administration’ Rep. Fossella said, “The release of this funding is essential to ensuring that those who are sick today or who fall ill in the future continue to have access to both the monitoring and medical care they need and deserve.” Reps. Nadler, Maloney, Fossella and Rep. Peter King have also introduced the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, a bipartisan bill which would provide comprehensive medical treatment to any person whose health was affected by the 9/11 attacks, and would reopen the Victim Compensation Fund so that people can be compensated for their economic losses. Last March, Senator Clinton chaired a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on 9/11 health, and is working on a bipartisan basis with her colleagues to develop a long-term solution to the health care needs of those impacted by these terrorist attacks. # # # A Native of New York, Rena writes as a freelance speech writer, ghost writer, journalist, and poet. She has been represented by the Hearst Corporation, Conde Nast, and Random House. End
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