[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 144 (Thursday, September 11, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1768-E1769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE 9/11 HEALTH AND COMPENSATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2008

  Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, on September 11, 2001, America and the 
world watched in horror as our Nation came under ruthless attack. At 
the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon, thousands were killed by 
the cowardly deeds of terrorists. We heard the stories of those heroic 
passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who gave their lives so 
that they might save the lives of others by thwarting an attack on the 
United States Capitol.
  In lower Manhattan, part of my congressional district, New York's 
finest and bravest rushed to the disaster site. In the days and weeks 
after, countless Americans would also come to New York to offer their 
assistance. Nearly 3,000 people were killed at the World Trade Center, 
and countless others were wounded.
  Since then, we have made tremendous progress in rebuilding. But we 
still have work left to do. One of our greatest national 
responsibilities right now is to aid those people who are still 
suffering from 9/11--our first responders and rescue workers, local 
area workers, residents, students, and others who have become sick from 
the environmental aftermath of 9/11.
  When the buildings of the World Trade Center came crumbling down, 
nearly half a million pounds of lead, asbestos, glass fibers, steel, 
and concrete formed a massive cloud of toxic dust and smoke that 
blanketed parts of New York City and New Jersey. Fires burned for 
months, emitting a whole host of deadly substances. Scientists have 
said that this dust was as caustic as Drain-o, and that the air quality 
was worse than during the Kuwaiti oil fires.
  From the beginning, we warned that the air wasn't safe and that our 
courageous first responders were not being afforded the proper 
protection from dangerous toxins as they were toiling on the pile to 
rebuild. We spent years working to try to convince public officials 
that the asbestos, fiberglass and other toxins had travelled far and 
settled into the interiors of residences, workplaces and schools, and 
that a proper testing and cleanup program was required to eliminate the 
health risks to area residents, workers and students. We demanded that 
the Federal Government acknowledge the fact, supported by a mountain of 
peer-reviewed research, that thousands of our Nation's citizens are 
today sick from 9/11 and that many more could become sick in the 
future. We explained to whoever would listen that our 9/11 heroes were 
struggling to pay health care costs because they could no longer work 
and no longer had health insurance, and we have argued vigorously that 
the Federal response to date has been dangerously limited, piecemeal 
and unstable.
  Thankfully, we have achieved a much more widespread recognition of 
many of these problems. Now, 7 years after the attacks, it is 
imperative that Congress do what is right for our heroes and our living 
victims by passing H.R. 6594, the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
  Though the devastating 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center 
occurred within the bounds of my congressional district, we know that 
these were really attacks on our Nation as a whole--figuratively and 
literally. Every member in New York's downstate delegation represents 
hundreds, if not thousands, of people who live, work, attend school, or 
were otherwise present in the affected areas, and were exposed to a 
toxic brew of contamination. Indeed, every member in this House 
represents a State that has people in the World Trade Center Health 
Registry who were exposed and are concerned about their health.
  And as this is unquestionably a national problem, it has always 
required a national response. But despite our sustained efforts to get 
the Administration to develop a comprehensive plan to deal with this 
growing public health problem that they themselves now finally 
acknowledge, the New York delegation has instead found itself, year 
after year, coming to Congress with its ``hat in hand'' to test its 
luck at the annual appropriations process. Thankfully, with the 
outstanding bipartisan

[[Page E1769]]

support of my colleagues for that funding, we have had some key 
successes. But this is simply no longer a tenable course of action.
  Passage of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act would mark an end to 
this unpredictable approach and ensure that a consistent source of 
funding is available to monitor, and if necessary, treat, the thousands 
of first responders, community members, and others already affected by 
WTC-related illnesses as well as those who are most likely to become 
sick in the future. And it would make sure that no matter where an 
affected individual were to live in the future, he or she could get 
care. Building on the expertise of the existing Centers of Excellence, 
the bill would fill key gaps in how we are currently providing 
treatment and monitoring. And finally, this legislation would provide 
an opportunity for compensation for economic damages and losses by 
reopening the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
  On this anniversary of one of the most devastating days in our 
national consciousness, I thank members of Congress and the American 
people for coming to our aid after September 11th and in the years that 
followed. And once again, I implore you to pass the 9/11 Health and 
Compensation Act.

                          ____________________