Legislation
The World Trade Center Health Program was created by Congress in 2010 and was reauthorized in 2015 to remain open until 2090 after years of efforts by 9/11 responders and survivors to get Washington to recognize the health impacts of the toxins at Ground Zero that were impacting thousands. However, in coming years, the World Trade Center Health Program will not have enough funds to provide all the care that is needed for those still suffering the physical and mental impact of 9/11. This includes the responders and survivors who will be newly diagnosed with 9/11-associated cancers caused by their toxic exposures in the coming years.
The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) currently provides medical treatment and monitoring for over 120,000 9/11 responders and survivors from the World Trade Center and lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, and the Shanksville crash site, who live in every State and 434 out of 435 Congressional Districts.
Because of an impending budget shortfall, the World Trade Center Health Program will face service cuts to 9/11 responders and survivors starting in 2028, unless Congress takes action and provides the needed funding.
While the recent additional funding that was provided in the 2022 Omnibus spending bill, through the efforts of Senators Gillibrand and Schumer, did postpone the date that service cuts would go into effect by several years, Congress will still need to provide additional funds to stop the cuts to services and ensure that the World Trade Center Health Program is fully funded and able to provide its care to injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors.
To fix this problem Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) Cory Booker (D-NJ), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). along with Members of Congress Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)), Anthony D ’Esposito (R-NY), Dan Goldman ( (D-NY and 26 other Members of Congress have introduced bi partisan legislation, the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2023 HR.1294/ S.569
This legislation is needed to ensure that the slogan that we will never forget 9/11 is a reality and that 9/11 responders and survivors will continue to the get care that they need and deserve.
This legislation will address the projected funding shortfall and ensure that the World Trade Center Health Program will be fully funded going forward.
It also fixes an issue that has prevented all active-duty servicemembers, DOD civilians and other Federal responders who responded to the Pentagon and Shanksville crash sites from joining the World Trade Center Health Program.
This impending budget shortfall needs to be fixed and all responders to the Pentagon and Shanksville need to be able to be enrolled to ensure that the slogan that we will never forget 9/11 is a reality and that 9/11 responders and survivors will continue to the get care that they need and deserve.
Please join us in making sure your representative in the House or the Senate is a co-sponsor of the bill. You can check if your member of Congress is on the bill by going to our “Take Action” page, type in your address and see if your Representative is on the bill.
Bill Text
9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act
Bill Summary
Memo on 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2023
CRS Section by Section Memo on H.R. 1294 S. 569 March 6th, 2023
Cosponsors of 2023 Legislation
List of Senate Sponsors S. 569
List of House Sponsors HR. 1294
Dear Colleagues
Garbarino, Nadler, D ’Esposito, Goldman Dear Colleague 911 Funding Correction Act February 27th, 2023
Memo in Support
Memo in Support April 14th, 2023
Statistics
WTC Health Program Membership by State February 2023
WTC Health Program Membership by Congressional District February 2023
VCF Participation by State August 2022
Press Releases
December 22, 2022
With this legislative amendment, the impact of the funding deficit will be delayed, which will allow the program to continue to welcome and serve injured responders and survivors—rather than beginning to turn them away in October 2024.
December 20, 2022
What the Senate is saying is that they will not do the right thing unless injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors travel to Washington again and again, to walk their hallways to demand action.
News Articles
March 6, 2023 — The Hill — Some in Congress are forgetting the lingering health issues from the 9/11 attacks
Even 20 years later, the health issues associated with the 9/11 attacks continues to evolve and grow.
March 2, 2023 — Fox News — Sen. Gillibrand: Changes to 9/11 aid would cover first responders in Pennsylvania and Pentagon
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., join ‘Your World with Neil Cavuto’ to discuss bipartisan efforts to boost 9/11 health program aid.
March 1, 2023 — Work-Bites — Never Forget?!? 9/11 Heroes Are Still Fighting For Healthcare Following Gov’t Lies
New York labor unions are in the forefront of the latest drive to secure permanent funding for the 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program, which is set to run out of funding without Congressional action.
February 28, 2023 — NY Daily News — NY lawmakers — Republicans and Democrats — unveil bill to close funding shortfall in 9/11 health program
The bill — meant to cover shortfalls the World Trade Center Health Program is expected to face starting around 2027 — aims to fix a funding formula that has not kept up as higher enrollment and costs surged.
February 28, 2023 — Newsday — WTC Health Program would get $2 billion more under proposal
A bipartisan group of Senate and House members will launch a campaign to pass a bill to cover the rest of the funding needed by the World Trade Center Health Program.
February 28, 2023 — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand — Gillibrand, Schumer, Garbarino, Booker, Menendez, Nadler, D’Esposito, Goldman, IAFF General President Edward Kelly, John Feal And 9/11 Advocates Announce Bipartisan Bill To Close Funding Gap In World Trade Center Health Program
Elected officials were joined by International Association of Fire Fighters General President Edward Kelly, 9/11 advocate John Feal, union representatives of NYPD and FDNY, and other responder and survivor advocates.
Editorial Support
May 5, 2023 — NY Daily News — Congress must fully fund the health care for 9/11 heroes
It is unconscionable to have to continually seek support from lawmakers outside New York, and beg for funding for this essential, life-saving program, even while the numbers are clear.
April 16, 2023 — Newsday — Make 9/11 an unforgettable day
Television news doesn’t spend hours covering it. People go about their days, walking past the site, barely stopping to take a moment to remember. The tourists seem to stop for selfies. But remember we must.
March 27, 2023 — NY Daily News — AWOL for 9/11 heroes and victims: Congress must fully fund the World Trade Center Health Program
A promise and threat to hound every member of Congress from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut until they sponsor the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2023.
March 1, 2023 — NY Daily News — Help for the 9/11 ailing: Congress can’t stall in passing bill for WTC responders and survivors
There was $1 billion added during the waning moments of last year by Congress, but that only put off the problem for a few years and the cuts now loom in 2027.
November 3, 2022 — NY Daily News — What Congress owes 9/11 first responders now
Cuts are unacceptable; cuts to this program are insulting.
October 23, 2022 — NY Daily News — Don’t leave them hanging: America must meet its obligation to those suffering 9/11 health ailments
Politicians so eager to stand by the fallen victims of 9/11 and their families are derelict in their obligation to the much larger group of still-living survivors and first responders
Letters in Support
Older Information
Legislation page for 2021- 2022 Funding Effort
Legislation Page for 2019 Effort to Permanently Reauthorize & Fund VCF