Nearly a quarter-century after the tragic events of 9/11, which saw the World Trade Center demolished by Al Qaeda terrorists, Congress has at last committed to fully funding healthcare for those affected. This action benefits not only the courageous firefighters who sifted through Ground Zero debris but also everyday individuals ensnared in the hazardous aftermath.
The journey to this point has been arduous, draining the strength of many first responders and survivors who had to travel to Washington, their health deteriorating, to plead for essential medical care.
Following the 2024 presidential election, a bipartisan agreement was in place to secure funding for the World Trade Center Health Program. However, complications arose when Elon Musk disrupted the arrangement, necessitating another year to restore it.
Throughout this struggle, Long Island Congressman Andrew Garbarino, a Republican, and Democratic Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer remained steadfast. They rallied support from the bipartisan House and Senate delegations of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose father endured severe injuries as a firefighter in a 1984 Louisiana chemical fire, also proved to be a pivotal supporter.
This time, however, the revived deal lacked backing from a Republican senator. Sen. Mike Braun had vacated his position to govern Indiana, leaving a gap that should have been filled by Republican senators from Florida and Pennsylvania—states with significant numbers of World Trade Center Health Program enrollees. Despite bipartisan support from their respective states’ House members, Sens. Rick Scott, Ashley Moody of Florida, and Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania, failed to step up as Braun had.
Adding to this absence was Pennsylvania’s Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, whose silence contrasted sharply with the oft-repeated promise to “never forget” 9/11.
Someone who did come through was Brett Guthrie, the Kentucky congressman who is chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. He was in New York last summer and Garbarino arranged for Guthrie to visit a Manhattan firehouse to meet and talk with FDNY members. It was Guthrie who helped put the funding in the bill for the GOP House bill and the GOP Senate went along. They got it done despite the cowardice of Scott, Moody and McCormick.
The additional cash means that the looming rationing of care or even cuts in the WTCHP starting next year will be avoided. There is now sufficient money to cover all costs up until at least 2040.
Gillibrand has been fighting for this since she entered the Senate in 2009, replacing Hillary Clinton, who had tried before her for a compensation fund and health coverage for the WTC injured. At the time we asked Gillibrand if she would continue Clinton’s quest. Gillibrand pledged that she would. It has taken 17 years and Gillibrand never gave up.
Pass the bill and send it to the president for a signature and let’s provide the best possible health coverage to all the people who have been harmed by the WTC toxins.
