Labor & Employment Law

9/11 Heroes Tell House: Pass the 9/11 Health Bill

By Mike Hall

More than 300 9/11 first responders, recovery workers and survivors rallied yesterday on Capitol Hill and then hit the halls of Congress to urge lawmakers to finally approve legislation providing long-term medical care and monitoring.

The legislation, the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (H.R. 847), is expected to come to a vote in the House next week. Tens of thousands of rescue and recovery workers and community members face serious health risks from their exposure to the toxic mix of chemicals, jet fuel, asbestos, lead, glass fragments and other debris. Their illnesses include a range of respiratory, gastrointestinal and mental health conditions.

Just last week, a new study by Mount Sinai Medical Center found the health problems of those who spent time in the toxic Ground Zero stew are more widespread and persistent than previously reported. Some 70 percent of the 10,000 workers tested between 2002 and 2004 now say they have new or worsened respiratory illnesses.

Four times as many firefighters and twice as many emergency medical service workers had below-normal lung function for their ages six to seven years after 9/11 as they did before the attacks.

Dr. Robin Herbert, co-director of Mount Sinai?s World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program told The New York Times:

There should no longer be any doubt about the health effects of the World Trade Center disaster. Our patients are sick, and they will need ongoing care for the rest of their lives.

House Republicans in July blocked the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (H.R. 847). The bill did not achieve the two-thirds majority required for passage under ?suspension of the rules,? the parliamentary procedure used to bring the bill before a vote. But it did receive a large majority, 255-159, including 12 Republicans. Next week?s vote will be under normal rules that require just a simple majority for passage.

Yesterday on the House floor Rep. Tim Bishop (D- N.Y) told his colleagues:

New York?s courageous firefighters, police officers, EMTs, clean-up workers, and the thousands who came from other states to lend New York a hand have been waiting for Congress to act…We must always fulfill our solemn promise to remember Sept. 11 and those who died, and it?s imperative we care for those brave men and women who are still affected by its aftermath.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on September 16, 2010 (boomark / email).