[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3918 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3918

  To establish a grant program for individuals still suffering health 
effects as a result of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City 
                          and at the Pentagon.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 21, 2006

Mrs. Clinton (for herself, Mr. Schumer, and Mr. Kennedy) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish a grant program for individuals still suffering health 
effects as a result of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City 
                          and at the Pentagon.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``9/11 Heroes Health Improvement Act 
of 2006''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR 9/11-RELATED HEALTH CARE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), acting through the 
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall award 
grants to eligible entities to provide medical and mental health 
monitoring, tracking, and treatment to individuals whose health has 
been directly impacted as a result of the attacks on New York City and 
at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
    (b) Eligibility.--
            (1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        subsection (a), an entity shall--
                    (A) be an entity--
                            (i) that serves individuals described in 
                        subsection (a), including--
                                    (I) entities providing baseline and 
                                follow-up screening, clinical 
                                examinations, or long-term medical or 
                                mental health monitoring, analysis, or 
                                treatment to such individuals such as 
                                the Mount Sinai Center for Occupational 
                                and Environmental Medicine of New York 
                                City, the New York City Fire 
                                Department's Bureau of Health Services 
                                and Counseling Services Unit, the New 
                                York City Police Foundation's Project 
                                COPE, the Police Organization Providing 
                                Peer Assistance of New York City, and 
                                the New York City Department of Health 
                                and Mental Hygiene's World Trade Center 
                                Health Registry; and
                                    (II) any entity performing medical 
                                and mental health monitoring, tracking, 
                                or treatment of any individual that 
                                responded to the attacks at the 
                                Pentagon; or
                            (ii) an entity not described in clause (i) 
                        that provides similar services to the 
                        individuals described in such clause; and
                    (B) submit to the Secretary an application at such 
                time, in such manner, and containing such information 
                as the Secretary may require.
            (2) Eligible individuals.--Individuals eligible to receive 
        assistance from an entity under a grant under this section 
        shall include firefighters, police officers, paramedics, 
        workers, volunteers, residents, and any other individual who 
        worked at Ground Zero, Fresh Kills, or the Pentagon or who 
        lived or worked in the vicinity of such areas, and whose health 
        has deteriorated as a result of the attacks described in 
        subsection (a), and who have been evaluated by a physician or 
        mental health professional for 9/11-related health conditions 
        and need treatment for such conditions.
    (c) Priority in Awarding Assistance.--An eligible entity that 
receives a grant under this section shall use amounts provided under 
such grant to provide assistance to individuals in the following order 
of priority:
            (1) Individuals who are not covered under health insurance 
        coverage.
            (2) Individuals who need health care assistance beyond what 
        their health insurance coverage provides.
            (3) Individuals with insufficient health care insurance 
        coverage.
            (4) Individuals who are in need of health care coverage and 
        who are not described in any of paragraphs (1) through (3).
    (d) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and monthly thereafter, the Director of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention shall submit to the Majority and 
Minority Leaders of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of 
Representatives, a report on the use of funds under this section.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        carry out this section, $1,914,000,000 for fiscal years 2007 
        through 2011.
            (2) Staff and administration.--The Secretary may use not to 
        exceed $10,000,000 of the amount appropriated under paragraph 
        (1) for staffing and administrative expenses related to the 
        implementation of this section.
            (3) Use of other funds.--The Secretary may use any funds 
        appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services, or 
        any other funds specifically designated, to carry out this 
        section.
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