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THE C I TYOF NEW YORK

OFFICEOFTHE MAYORNEW YORK, NY 10007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16, 2010

No. 472www.nyc.gov

MAYOR BLOOMBERG DELIVERS REMARKS IN SUPPORT OF SENATE PASSAGE

OF 9/11 HEALTH BILL

The following are the Mayors remarks as delivered today at the Capitol

Senator, thank you, and thank you for introducing the legislation that would establish a

sustained, long-term 9/11 health program and thats what this is all about. The men and women

who assisted in the rescue and recovery mission after the devastating attacks of 9/11 arefortunate to have effective advocates such as you and Senator Schumer fighting on their behalf

here in Washington, as well as our New York delegation in the House and theyre all here, too

many to mention, but Peter and Carolyn and Anthony and Jerry, everybody else thank you.Youve done your part, now its up to the Senate.

And we all know this is an issue of national importance. The destruction of the WorldTrade Center was an attack and the attack on the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania these were

acts of war against the United States, and the ongoing health care is part of the results of that

attack. So this really is a national duty to do something here.

As you know, the House version of the 9/11 health care bill is about two months old,

and President Obama has already made clear his intention to sign the bill into law, if it is passed,

if it comes to his desk. And so now the responsibility rests with the nations senators, who, justlike those who assisted in the relief and recovery efforts, hail from all 50 states, as did the

victims who died on that day and the people who are getting sick today. They came from all 50

states, and some of them from around the world. And that means that when this piece of

legislation comes to the Senate floor for a vote which we hope will happen very soon everysingle U.S. Senator will have a stake in the outcome.

All of our senators represent someone who answered the call to help our country in its

hour of need, and now those brave men and women need our senators to answer their call for

help. Many of them are already struggling with health problems. Some are battling serious

illnesses; others may have to confront them in the future. And while we cant prevent anyonefrom contracting an illness, we can and must ensure sustained funding to treat those who are

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sick, or could become sick, to continue researching World Trade Center health effects, and to re-

open the Victims Compensation Fund so that those who worked at Ground Zero and did not

show such symptoms until after the Funds deadline passed, can receive fair and justcompensation. We owe at least that much to the firefighters, police officers, construction

workers, community members, and volunteers from across America who contributed to the

heroic task of saving lives, and then clearing the debris from the World Trade Center.

That is what Ive come to Washington to say. Ive said it privately to some senators Ive

already met with today. Im saying it publicly here. You know, New York City did not wait forfederal support to address the health impacts of 9/11. In the beginning, New York City funded

the launch and expansion of the World Trade Center Environmental Health Center at our own

Health and Hospitals Corporation. And under the 9/11 Health bill, we would continue to

shoulder some of the cost of care provided at our public hospitals and clinics. But today, many ofour World Trade Center Centers of Excellence, including the program at Mount Sinai, and the

Fire Department of New Yorks WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program also rely on

federal appropriations from Congress. And in order to continue providing clinical services in the

future, they must continue to receive such funding.

The 9/11 Health and Compensation Act provides for the long-term sustainability ofthese programs and also the efforts of the World Trade Center Health Registry, which represents

our greatest tool for understanding and monitoring the health impacts of 9/11. And until the

Senate passes a 9/11 Health bill, the future of all these critical programs and the lives of many

of our most patriotic citizens remain in jeopardy. New York, and every other state in thenation, is counting on the U.S. Senate to do the right thing, and to do it right now.

Two months ago we observed the ninth anniversary of 9/11, and before you know it, thetenth anniversary will be upon us. We cannot wait any longer for action on this legislation. Let

us work together both sides of the aisle, now to ensure that all those who survived the

attacks, and all those who risked their lives to save others, receive the health care they need andthat they deserve. This is an American obligation, and we all have to come together and make

sure it is an obligation that we stand up to and fulfill.

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Contact: Stu Loeser / Jason Post (212) 788-2958

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