Recent Blog Posts

After more than half a year of trying to understand and battle the coronavirus pandemic, we know that COVID-19 infects people of all ages and backgrounds, with the elderly being exceptionally vulnerable. The heroes of 9/11 face heightened risk from the virus due to underlying health problems dating back to that fateful day. “9/11 made […]

Thousands of 9/11 first responders and survivors, already suffering from long-term respiratory problems and other complications due to exposure to Ground Zero toxins, now find themselves at additional risk due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. People with lung diseases like COPD, asthma, or lung cancer or with weakened immune systems are at the greatest risk […]

Nineteen years ago today, our country suffered the deadliest terrorist attack in human history. Thousands of innocent lives were lost on September 11, 2001, and those exposed to the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Shanksville toxins have faced a terrible health crisis that continues to afflict the 9/11 community. Tragically, more people have died since […]

Recent studies from Stony Brook University found that people who inhaled toxic dust after the 9/11 terror attacks have a greater risk of developing dementia and other forms of memory loss. “Scores of people who I represent have told me over the years, ‘my husband can’t remember anything’ or ‘I can’t remember anything, Michael’ and it’s really heartbreaking,” […]

People who contracted skin cancer due to exposure to the toxic atmosphere around Ground Zero after 9/11 — such as firefighters, police officers, downtown residents, workers, students, teachers and many others — can receive lifetime health care from the World Trade Center Health Program for both non-melanoma and melanoma types of cancer. The WTCHP covers […]

A year ago today, I was honored to be invited to the White House, along with my partner Lee London and Ret. FDNY Deputy Chief Richie Alles, to witness the historic signing of the law which fully funded and permanently extended the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. In addition to the legislators who sponsored the bill, […]