[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E5]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     SUPPORTING THE JAMES ZADROGA 9/11 HEALTH AND COMPENSATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 5, 2011

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the 9/11 
Health and Compensation Act.
  We all know where we were on that fateful morning. If we were lucky, 
we were safe and with loved ones and far from Ground Zero.
  But there are thousands of others who were not so fortunate, and who 
are reminded of those attacks every day--whether that's because they 
lost a family member or a friend, or because they cannot breathe after 
spending weeks cleaning the rubble of our fallen Twin Towers.
  It is those first responders whose health we have a solemn obligation 
to watch over, and they number in the thousands--over 13,000 sick World 
Trade Center responders, more than 53,000 whose health is being 
monitored and 71,000 who were exposed to poisonous toxins.
  They are firefighters, police officers, EMTs, construction workers 
and volunteers--just people who saw a fire and ran towards it to see 
how they could help--ran into the fire--and they remain in need.
  They come from every single state in the Union and nearly every 
Congressional District. The health of these men and women is truly a 
national duty. With this bill, we can fulfill that duty.
  It establishes the World Trade Center Health Program to monitor and 
treat responders whose injuries were caused by exposure to airborne 
toxins or any other adverse condition resulting from the attacks, and 
ensures that there is a network of health care providers around the 
country to care for anyone enrolled in the program. The bill also sets 
up the World Trade Center Survivor Program to provide screenings, 
treatment and follow-up monitoring to survivors and those living in the 
surrounding areas.
  No one asked these men and women to go do what they did. They 
shouldn't have to ask us for quality health care. I strongly urge my 
colleagues to vote yes.

                          ____________________