WASHINGTON – At a major Capitol Hill forum today organized by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressional and New York leaders urged immediate passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, designed to help police officers and other emergency workers who suffered health problems while responding to the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center in New York. The Act, which passed the House in September, is pending in the Senate.
Speakers at today’s forum argued passionately for passage, saying that the first responders were responding to an act of war against the United States and should be taken care of. Many first responders have fallen ill or died since the 9/11 attacks.
In addition to Senator Gillibrand, speakers advocating for passage of the legislation included Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Frank Lautenberg, Congressman Peter King, Congressman Jerry Nadler, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and representatives of police and other first responders. King, who is the incoming Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said he would do everything he could to fight for passage of the legislation.
Defense
Energy
Homeland Security
Gulf Coast
Disaster Response
Clean Technology