By Crystal Swann
October 4, 2010

The “James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act” that passed the full House by a vote of 268 to 160 will provide needed help to the many thousands exposed to toxins at Ground Zero including 16,000 first responders, and at least 2,700 community members who are currently sick and receiving treatment. In addition, the legislation is a critical first step to providing long term and sustainable funding for a permanent monitoring and treatment system for thousands of first responders and others who became sick and are getting sicker from exposure to toxins released in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

“Today's bi-partisan vote by the House of Representatives is a significant moment in a fight we have waged for years. Today's vote acknowledges that the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks were an attack on America, and addressing its health impacts is a national duty. This bill recognizes that the country should be there for the tens of thousands of responders who were there for us on 9/11,” stated New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg after the bill's passage. It is now up to the Senate to act on the bill after recess.

During the Conference of Mayors 78th Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City, the mayors unanimously supported a policy resolution calling for legislation that would permanently fund a monitoring and treatment program for Americans who can prove they were exposed to the WTC (World Trade Center) disaster and to permanently fund WTC-related health research to ensure appropriate use of federal funds for monitoring and treating WTC-exposed Americans. In addition, the mayors called for legislation that would re-open the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.