WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the 24th anniversary of the 9/11attacks, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY) is calling on congress to fully fund a program that helps people who have 9/11 related cancers.
Years ago, congress established the World Trade Center Health Program to provide medical assistance and monitoring to those who suffer from exposure to toxins from the 9/11 attacks. The Senator said the program has been a lifeline to those who responded to the attacks and others impacted by the toxins.
However, Senator Gillibrand said the cost of medical care has risen higher than inflation and as more people get sick, the program has struggled to keep up with the cost of care. She said if congress does not secure additional funding for the program, it will be forced to close enrollment to new 9/11 responders and survivors within the next few years and existing enrollees in the program will face direct cuts to their care.
“Over the past several years, a strong bipartisan coalition has delivered more than $1.6 billion dollars to address funding shortfalls in the program,” said the Senator. “But these have just been patches. That’s why I’m demanding full funding for the World Trade Center Health Program to be included in any funding package that moves forward this fall.”
Since it was created, the Senator said the program has helped more than 140-thousand Americans who have experienced health effects, like cancer, linked to the attacks and its aftermath.
