House Subcommittee Meets to Discuss Reauthorization of Zadroga Act

On Thursday, June 11, a meeting of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health was held to discuss the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act, also known as H.R. 1786. The bill would reauthorize the existing Zadroga Act, the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund and the World Trade Center Health Program, which offer medical treatment, health monitoring and financial compensation for any survivors of and responders to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Currently there are more than 30,000 people who suffer from some sort of medical condition as a result of the 9/11 attacks. Many of these conditions are chronic diseases such as gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory problems, cancer and a number of other ailments. Others suffer from severe psychological problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Cancer has been a particularly common issue among responders, and it is still only just now revealing its presence in many victims because of its long latency period. Medical researchers have named more than 60 different forms of cancer caused by toxins in the dust and debris found in the air near Ground Zero. Some 4,000 people have already been diagnosed with a type of cancer either worsened or caused by these toxins, and that number is expected to continue to rise over the coming years.

Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Peter King and Jerry Nadler, all of New York, introduced H.R. 1786. It has the support of a number of important groups, including the Fire Department of New York.

To learn more about the potential for reauthorization of the Zadroga Act and to learn more about your rights, meet with a skilled 9/11 victim compensation attorney at Barasch, McGarry, Salzman & Penson.