[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24501]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 9/11 HEALTH AND COMPENSATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VITO FOSSELLA

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 17, 2007

  Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, last Tuesday was the sixth anniversary 
of 9/11, and it is time to reaffirm our commitment to ``Never Forget.''
  What many here in Washington have forgotten is that a silent killer 
to this day is still taking the lives of the rescue, recovery, and 
clean-up workers and volunteers who were at ground zero. All of them, 
in addition to those who worked, lived, and went to school in lower 
Manhattan, breathed the toxic air created by the destruction of the 
towers, and many of them are suffering tragically from the health 
effects.
  A New York City Health Department study shows an increased incidence 
of asthma for those who worked the pile, and an Department of Health 
and Human services study shows that illnesses as a result of exposure 
to 9/11 toxins are on the rise.
  As this problem grows, progress on coming to a solution can be 
measured only in small steps rather than giant leaps as critical needs 
continue to be unmet after 6 years.
  My colleagues and I have worked across party lines fighting for 
health monitoring for all who were exposed, adequate funding to treat 
those who are sick or injured and a comprehensive federal plan to 
ensure that anyone impacted by 9/11 gets the care he or she deserves.
  We have had some successes, such as including $50 million for 
federally-funded 9/11 health clinics in the Labor HHS appropriations 
bill to ensure that the unsung heroes of 9/11 have access to the care 
they need.
  This is a step in the right direction, and we need to keep the 
momentum going. That's why I have worked across party lines with my 
colleagues, including Congresswoman Maloney, to develop legislation we 
are offering today to address several key areas to help our heroes who 
are sick now as well as anyone who falls ill in the future. The 9/11 
Health and Compensation Act provides comprehensive medical monitoring 
and treatment for those who were exposed to Ground Zero toxins and 
compensation for the sick and injured. The bill goes further than any 
effort to date by expanding monitoring and treatment to all who were 
exposed, including responders, residents, workers, and students in the 
area. It also makes good on our promise to reopen the Victims 
Compensation Fund to help those who fell ill over the past 3 years.
  I applaud the work of my colleagues for coming together to help those 
whose health is in danger because of exposure to ground zero on that 
fateful day. I pledge my full support of these efforts as we move 
forward, because I truly affirm to ``Never Forget.''

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