Schumer vows to seek $3B for troubled Ground Zero health fund
Sen. Chuck Schumer stated Sunday that he’ll push Congress for a $3 billion infusion of federal money to rescue the financially troubled 9/11 health-care fund.
The New York Democrat and Senate majority chief stated he’ll search to safe the funds within the federal funds to offset the anticipated shortfall within the World Commerce Middle Well being Program, which gives medical care and companies for first responders and others affected by the Sept. 11, 2001, terror assaults.
“We’ve got seen the toll a funding disaster takes on our 9/11 heroes and people made sick by the despicable assault on New York 21 years in the past,” Schumer stated, talking surrounded by terror-attack survivors and advocates.
“So I’m right here, joined in assist by so many mates and selfless advocates, to say that we should handle the World Commerce Middle Well being Program funding problem as quickly as attainable.”
He vowed to “make a push” to get the funding accepted this 12 months.
John Feal, a longtime and vocal advocate of 9/11 first responders, stated he was decided to have the measure accepted — regardless of any political opposition that might floor.
“I’ve zero tolerance for elected officers to get in our means,” Feal stated. “I’ve left a path of our bodies of elected officers who get in our means.
“We will’t assist those that died on 9/11, however we may help those that are sick,” he added. “We may help these by getting the $3 billion again within the World Commerce Middle Well being Program.”
Schumer stated he’ll request that the complete quantity be included within the funds.
“Sure, $3 billion,” he stated.
The announcement comes on the twenty first anniversary of the assaults that downed the Twin Towers and broken the Pentagon, killing a number of thousand Individuals.
Congress has been working to provide you with the funds to rescue this system.
The WTC well being program, administered underneath the oversight of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, gives free medical therapy and monitoring for health-related points linked to the 9/11 assaults.
On the twentieth anniversary of the assaults final 12 months, the Division of Justice acknowledged that extra individuals — each first-responders and those that reside advert work in Decrease Manhattan — had died from health-related sickness at Floor Zero than from the precise terror assault.
The assault killed 2,996 individuals, whereas greater than 3,300 additionally dying from health-related points.
