Don’t Revictimize Chronically Ill 9/11 Survivors

Target: Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senate Majority Leader

Goal: Secure funds to ensure continued healthcare coverage for survivors of September 11 attacks.

While thousands of Americans lost their lives on September 11 of 2001, many more first responders, volunteers, and community members are still suffering the physical effects decades later. An estimated 40,000 people have illnesses stemming from prolonged exposure to toxic substances in the aftermath. The conditions range from severe respiratory distress to cancer.

The Zadroga Act, signed into law by President Obama in 2011, led to the establishment of a health program that provides funding for medical expenses incurred by these survivors. This program has helped many Americans, but an anticipated three-billion-dollar shortfall could seriously hinder these efforts. Particularly endangered would be coverage for any new patients. And as many of these diseases have proven, their worst effects may be yet to come.

A proposed bipartisan initiative could infuse this critical healthcare with needed funds, but the bill seems stuck in limbo. Sign the petition below to demand urgent action that will truly honor the impact of this unforgettable tragedy.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Senator Schumer,

“If Congress does not quickly address this impending crisis, then the men and women who put their lives on the line and who survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks will lose health coverage to treat the physical and mental illnesses that they sustained on that fateful day.” This statement was included in a letter to a key Congressional committee discussing the imminent budgeting crisis that will befall the WTC Health Program. The drafters of this letter go on to urge the following: “it’s critical the Senate act so that we can ensure all 9/11 first responders continue to receive the medical treatment that they rightfully deserve.”

And the Senate can act meaningfully by passing the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Correction Act. Please make good on your promise to secure these funds by bringing this essential bipartisan effort to a vote. Tens of thousands of directly affected Americans are awaiting the assurance that the moniker “never forget” is more than empty lip service.

Do not leave them behind.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Shannon Wagner