Congress, Responders, Survivors, Advocates Fight for Permanent 9/11 Benefits

Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm that has long fought to ensure the heroes of the 9/11 terrorist attacks are never forgotten, notes that a delegation of members from the New York and New Jersey Congress, first responders and advocates, and Parker Waichman met November 2, 2015 at the World Trade Center (WTC) attack site to express opposition to new proposals that cut health care and compensation and only temporarily extend the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, wrote [The Citizens for Extension of the James Zadroga Act, Inc](http://www.renew911health.org).

The Act established the WTC Health Program and the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund (VCF). The WTC Health Program provides medical treatment to over 33,000 people and monitoring to over 70,000, expired September 30, 2015, and is running on cash reserves until depletion. The VCF provides compensation to responders and survivors and expires October 3, 2016.

On October 29, 2015, majority members of the House Judiciary Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee Majority released two bills temporarily extending the Act, but just for five years and with insufficient funding, despite a House majority supporting permanent extension, notes Citizen. The House Judiciary introduced the September 11th VCF Reauthorization and U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Compensation Act. Aside from no program permanency and the House majority in favor of permanent extension, the new legislation cuts awards by 60 percent, adding to the underfunding.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee majority released a discussion draft of a bill to temporarily extend the WTC Health program for five years, cut funding established in the H.R. 1786 by more than $456 million, and fund the bill by cutting Medicare benefits, a move continually rejected by Congress.

The firm comments that exposure to WTC site toxic dust is associated with serious health conditions, including cancer. €œFirst responders are suffering as a result of their selfless actions,€ said Matthew J. McCauley, Senior Litigation Counsel at Parker Waichman. €œThese individuals sacrificed their health and well-being at a time when their country needed them. They should not have to beg for benefits.€

New York Democratic Congress members, Carolyn B. Maloney and Jerrold Nadler, and Congressman Peter King (Republican-New York) introduced the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1786), which seeks to fully fund and permanently extend the health and compensation programs and has received broad, bipartisan support with over 242 House co-sponsors. New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer introduced the same legislation in the Senate where the bill has garnered at least 62 co-sponsors.

Regarding the proposals, Representative Steve Israel (Democrat €“ New York) asked, €œWhy did the Republicans suddenly throw an alternative bill in our way? Because there are enough votes to pass this bill.€ According to [CBS Local](http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/11/02/911-responders-permanent-zadroga-act/), Representative Israel added, €œThey don't want this bill to pass, so they've come up with their own product, which they know is never going to pass the Congress, never be signed by the president. I think that that's dishonest.€

€œThe Judiciary and Energy & Commerce Majorities have dropped a subpar, inadequate bill that ignores the needs of our 9/11 heroes,€ added Congressman Nadler. €œThis proposal fails to live up to the promise we made to support the heroes of 9/11. I do not support it. My colleagues from New York do not support it. The heroes of 9/11 do not support it. There is already broad, bipartisan support from a majority in both the House and Senate for a permanent reauthorization of the Zadroga Act, and I hope my Republican colleagues will join us in passing this critical legislation.€ Parker Waichman continues to fight with first responders, survivors, and advocates, to help ensure passage of Zadroga Act amendments, and vows to continue its efforts to safeguard these heroes and ensure appropriate Zadroga Act compensation is received. To determine eligibility for compensation under the Act, or assistance with a claim, please visit [Parker Waichman's website](http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/zadroga-act-wtc-world-trade-center-claims-lawyer-attorney-lawsuit) or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).

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