WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Sen. Christopher Coons (D-Del.) joined eight of his Senate colleagues in co-sponsoring the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009, which provides federal funding for the medical monitoring and treatment for World Trade Center responders and survivors who were exposed to toxins at Ground Zero.


Numerous studies have shown that many first responders and survivors of the attack on September 11, 2001, have struggled with health problems such as lower and upper respiratory, gastrointestinal and mental health conditions.


“We have a duty to care for and honor the thousands of heroic men and women who were first on the scene after the World Trade Center attack,” said Sen. Coons (D-Del). “I’ve been an advocate for ensuring Delaware and the nation’s first responders receive the medical attention that they need and I strongly encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue providing much needed medical treatment to thousands of Americans who risked their lives in service of others by supporting this critical legislation.”


The bill establishes the World Trade Center Health Program, allowing for the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to provide medical monitoring and treatment for WTC responders in the New York area, as well as responders from outside the area who assisted in the aftermath, including 61 Delawareans who could potentially benefit from this legislation. The bill will also expand access in the responder medical monitoring and treatment program to 15,000 additional participants, which is currently capped at 40,000, and reopen the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) until December 22, 2031, to provide compensation for economic damages who didn’t file before or became ill after the original December, 22, 2003 deadline.


The bill, which was first introduced in the House by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), passed the House of Representatives on September 29, 2010. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is the leading Senator on the bill.


This is Sen. Coons’ first co-sponsorship since being sworn-in on Monday, November 15, 2010.

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