Las Vegas
AFL-CIO Executive Council statement
The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people, injured thousands more and brought unparalleled grief and anguish to the nation. But soon after the 9/11 attacks, it became clear that those who died and were injured on that tragic day were not the only victims. More than 100,000 rescue and recovery workers – including firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians, workers in the building and construction trades, transit workers, and others -- and hundreds of thousands of other workers and residents near Ground Zero were exposed to a toxic mix of dust and fumes from the collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC). These exposures were made worse by EPA’s pronouncements that the environment was safe and OSHA’s failure to enforce workplace safety and health requirements during rescue and recovery operations. Now many of these individuals, particularly the heroic responders who experienced very high exposures to toxins, are suffering from serious respiratory diseases and other health problems.
A study of Ground Zero first responders conducted by the Mount Sinai Medical Center found that nearly 70 percent had suffered new or worsened respiratory problems as a result of their WTC work. Reports published by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) show that 90 percent of FDNY rescue workers suffered new respiratory problems, experiencing an average loss of 12 years of lung capacity. In addition, a high incidence of gastrointestinal and mental health problems have been found, and concern is growing about the development of cancers and other chronic diseases.
Despite these widespread serious problems, the Bush Administration has been reluctant to acknowledge the growing 9/11 health crisis and to assist the victims. As a result of concerted efforts by the New York congressional delegation and labor, some funding was provided to establish medical monitoring and screening programs for rescue and recovery workers, but this funding has been inadequate. Until recently, no federal money was available for medical treatment. Even though these work-related diseases should be covered by workers’ compensation, the City of New York and private sector insurance carriers have been contesting claims. Costs have been shifted to health insurers, many of them union funds, and to workers through co-pays and deductibles. But many workers who have become sick and are unable to work have lost their health insurance and income and have no way to pay for needed medical care. In addition, volunteers who worked at the WTC site, including transit workers, building trades workers, and others, have been denied compensation and disability benefits by the Metropolitan Transit Agency and other employers. These problems need to be addressed.
In September 2006, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced funding of $58 million for medical treatment for WTC responders to be administered through the Mt. Sinai consortium and FDNY. However, it is estimated that these funds will last only until July 2007, putting the programs for monitoring and medical treatment in jeopardy and leaving 9/11 responders with no place to turn for care. President Bush has included $25 million for medical monitoring and treatment programs in his fiscal year 2008 budget request. But this amount is woefully short of the estimated $250 million to $390 million that is needed annually to provide medical monitoring and treatment for those affected. Moreover, in the past few days it has been reported that the Administration is contemplating defunding the Mt. Sinai and FDNY 9-11 health programs, and instead limiting support to medical treatment payments through a Medicaid voucher program.
The President and Congress should act immediately to ensure there are sufficient funds to continue the existing medical monitoring and treatment programs established at the Mount Sinai Medical Center and participating clinical centers, FDNY and Bellevue Hospital. These programs have the expertise to provide quality care to affected individuals and to conduct ongoing monitoring and research to determine if further adverse health effects occur as a result of Ground Zero exposures. These programs should be expanded to provide medical screening, monitoring and treatment for all workers and residents who have been adversely affected. Federal legislation should be enacted to provide individuals access to long-term medical treatment for their 9/11 conditions and compensation for their losses.
The attack on the World Trade Center was not an attack only on New York. It was an attack on the nation. Compelled by a moral obligation, the nation acted to compensate those injured in the collapse of the Twin Towers and in the attack on the Pentagon and the surviving families of those who were killed. This same moral obligation should compel the nation to meet the needs of 9/11 rescue and recovery workers and New York workers and residents who become ill because of their exposures to Ground Zero hazards.