[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 9, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1046-E1047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN RECOGNITION OF WORLD TRADE CENTER RESPONDER DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 9, 2010

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, along with my colleague and good friend 
Congressman Nadler, I rise to recognize World Trade Center Responder 
Day, which will be held in lower Manhattan on the afternoon of 
Saturday, June 5th. World Trade Center (WTC) Responder Day is organized 
by the Mount Sinai World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment 
Program Clinical Center, the New York State AFL-CIO, and the New York 
City Central Labor Council to honor the men and women who rushed to 
lower Manhattan to rescue and recover others following the terrorist 
attacks of September 11, 2001.
  The collapse of the World Trade Center towers took thousands of lives 
in a matter of seconds and released a massive cloud of asbestos, 
pulverized concrete, and other poisons that sickened thousands more in 
the days and months after the attacks. The first responders who 
participated in search, rescue, and recovery operations at Ground Zero 
toiled in this toxic environment, often for weeks at a time. As a 
result of their service, many of these heroes and heroines now suffer 
from a host of illnesses, including severe respiratory and 
gastrointestinal diseases and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder--as do 
many survivors of the attacks.
  For many, 9/11 has receded into memory, but the nightmare of that day 
continues for Americans sickened as a direct result of these attacks on 
our country, and are not getting the help they need and deserve from 
the federal government. In addition to honoring their service, WTC 
Responder Day also serves as a reminder that we must do more to provide 
proper health care and compensation to first responders and survivors 
of the attacks who are suffering.
  The federal government has a moral obligation to care for those who 
respond to an attack on our country, just as we did more than 65 years 
ago in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attacks. At that time, 
American civilians helped recover the dead and salvage what remained of 
our Pacific fleet. Many of these civilians also were killed, injured or 
made sick as a consequence of their heroic service to our nation. In 
passing the War Hazards Compensation Act of 1942, Congress wisely and 
compassionately extended health care and financial relief to civilian 
responders in need. It is time that this Congress did the same for 
those who lost their health as a result of 9/11. More than 100 
colleagues serving in this House, from all across the nation, have 
joined with Congressman Nadler and me in a bipartisan coalition to co-
sponsor the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. It will 
provide medical monitoring for everyone who was exposed to World Trade 
Center toxins, treatment for anyone who is sick as a result, and 
compensation for economic losses by reopening the 9/11 Victim 
Compensation Fund.
  Though WTC Responder Day is held in Manhattan, caring for the heroes 
of Ground Zero Americans is an issue that extends far beyond the 
borders of the Empire State. According to the federally-funded World 
Trade Center Health Registry, citizens from all 50 states and nearly 
every Congressional district in the country ventured to lower Manhattan 
to volunteer their services on or after 9/11, and now harbor serious 
concerns about their health. In all, more than 10,000 people enrolled 
in the Registry live outside the greater New York tri-state 
metropolitan area that also encompasses northern New Jersey and 
southwestern Connecticut.
  New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proclaimed June 5th to be 
World Trade Center Responders Day in the Big Apple. The organizers of 
Responder Day plan to make this a recurring, nationally-recognized 
event, one that will continue to inspire other communities around the 
country to host their own Responder Day gatherings in the years to 
come.
  Madam Speaker, Congressman Nadler and I ask that our colleagues join 
us in applauding the Mount Sinai World Trade Center Medical Monitoring 
and Treatment Program Clinical Center, the New York State AFL-CIO, and 
the New York City Central Labor Council for organizing World Trade 
Center Responder Day.

[[Page E1047]]

 We commend these fine organizations for their patriotism and 
dedication to caring for the heroes of 9/11.

                          ____________________