View source for James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act

{{Short description|Health care and support bill}}
{{Infobox U.S. legislation
| name            = James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010
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| cite public law = {{USPL|111|347}}
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| introducedin    = House
| introducedbill  = {{USBill|111|HR|847}}
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| introduceddate  = February 4, 2009
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| signedpresident = [[Barack Obama]]
| signeddate      = January 2, 2011
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[[File:Zadroga 9-11 memorial.jpg|thumb|World Trade Center monument at Zadroga Field, North Arlington, New Jersey]]
The '''James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010''' ({{USBill|111|HR|847}}; {{USPL|111|347}}) is a U.S. law to provide health monitoring and aid to the first responders, volunteers, and survivors of the [[September 11 attacks]]. It is named after [[James Zadroga]], a [[New York City Police Department|New York Police Department]] officer whose death was linked to [[Health effects arising from the September 11 attacks|exposures from the World Trade Center disaster]]. The law funds and establishes a [[World Trade Center Health Program|health program]] to provide medical treatment for responders and survivors who experienced or may experience health complications related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Senator [[Bob Menendez]] and Representative [[Carolyn Maloney]] initially co-sponsored the bill, which failed to pass in 2006.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-3891 S. 3891 - 109th], James Zadroga Act of 2006 (GovTrack.us)</ref><ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-6045 H.R. 6045 — 109th], James Zadroga Act of 2006 (GovTrack.us)]</ref> A different version of the bill passed both chambers in 2010 and was signed by President [[Barack Obama]] in the beginning of 2011. The bill was subsequently reauthorized in 2015, with coverage extended to 2090. The current{{when|date=November 2024}} bill was sponsored by Senator [[Kirsten Gillibrand]] and Representative [[Carolyn Maloney]] and signed into law by President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trump signs 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund bill for first responders|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-signs-911-victim-compensation-fund-bill-responders/story?id=64630468|access-date=2021-09-13|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|language=en}}</ref>
== History ==
In the state of [[New York (state)|New York]], Governor [[George Pataki]] signed a bill to expand benefits for 9/11 first responders.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/15/nyregion/15benefits.html|title=Pataki Signs Law Increasing Death Benefits for Ground Zero Workers|last=Cooper|first=Michael|date=2006-08-15|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-12-06}}</ref>
In the [[United States Congress]], various bills had been introduced to provide forms of health care to responders and survivors of the 9/11 attacks. On February 2, 2005, Congresswoman [[Carolyn Maloney]] introduced the Remember 9/11 Health Act, which died in committee. On September 13, 2006, Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] brought an amendment to a piece of ports security legislation, aiming to create a five-year, $1.9 billion treatment program for sufferers of Ground Zero dust and fumes after-effects.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/sick-ground-zero-workers-need-2-billion-in-treatment-sen-clinton-says |title=Sick Ground Zero Workers Need $2 Billion in Treatment, Sen. Clinton Says |date=September 15, 2006 |work=[[Fox News]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512174413/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C214049%2C00.html?sPage=fnc.national%2F_911 |archive-date=May 12, 2011 }}</ref>
In February 2009, Congresswoman Maloney introduced the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which eventually passed following a protracted political battle in 2010. The [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]] passed a new version of the act<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-847|title=H.R. 847: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010|publisher=govtrack.us|accessdate=2010-11-19}}</ref> in September 2010. [[New York City Mayor]] [[Michael Bloomberg]] asked the [[United States Senate|Senate]] to do the same.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/11/19/ny.911.workers.settlement/index.html|title=9/11 workers approve settlement with New York City|last=Solomon|first=Jesse|date=2010-11-19|work=[[CNN]]|accessdate=2010-11-23}}</ref> In a Senate vote held on December 9, 2010, Democrats were unable to break a Republican [[filibuster]] against the bill.<ref name="filibuster2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/nyregion/10health.html|title=Republicans Block U.S. Health Aid for 9/11 Workers|last=Hernandez|first=Raymond|date=December 10, 2010|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|pages=A28|accessdate=2010-12-11}}</ref> Opposed Republicans expressed concerns over the $7.4 billion cost of the bill.<ref name="filibuster2" /> According to Republicans, the provisions to cover the cost of the healthcare program via an [[excise]] tax increase on foreign-made goods would violate international [[tax treaties]].<ref name="dem_senators">{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/77895-new-yorks-dem-senators-see-breakthrough-on-9-11-healthcare-bill/|title=New York's Dem senators see breakthrough on 9/11 healthcare bill|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|date=2010-12-19|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="time_stewart">{{cite news|url=https://swampland.time.com/2010/12/20/did-jon-stewart-turn-the-tide-on-the-911-first-responders-bill/|title=Did Jon Stewart Turn the Tide on the 911 First Responders Bill?|last=Newton-Small|first=Jay|date=December 20, 2010|work=TIME Swampland|publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref> They also raised concerns about creating an expansive new healthcare entitlement program and re-opening the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=0dd6b4cf-6b22-4337-9ca3-d6dc11545017|title=The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010|last=Coburn|authorlink=US Senate|date=December 21, 2010|accessdate=2010-11-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225030234/http://coburn.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=0dd6b4cf-6b22-4337-9ca3-d6dc11545017|archivedate=December 25, 2010}}</ref> Many Republicans refused to end the filibuster until the Bush tax cuts were extended. Forty-two Senate Republicans had signed a pledge to filibuster all bills until the Bush tax cuts were renewed and the government was appropriately funded for the next several months.<ref name="time_stewart" /><ref name="post_stewart">{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2010/12/jon_stewarts_campaign_for_the.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305015159/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2010/12/jon_stewarts_campaign_for_the.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 5, 2011|title=Jon Stewart's campaign for the Zadroga bill|last=Bell|first=Melissa|date=2010-12-17|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=9 July 2012}}</ref> With only 57 votes to end the Senate filibuster and an incoming influx of Republicans in the wake of the [[2010 United States elections|2010 Congressional Elections]], the bill's future looked increasingly doubtful towards the end of 2010.<ref name="time_stewart" />
On December 16, 2010, comedian [[Jon Stewart]] dedicated an entire episode of ''[[The Daily Show]]'' to the political battle over the Zadroga Act. Guests included four 9/11 first responders suffering from severe diseases and injuries related to their work near the WTC site.<ref name="post_stewart" /> Stewart also interviewed Republican [[Mike Huckabee]], who urged that "Every Republican should vote for this bill".<ref name="huckabee_interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-16-2010/mike-huckabee|title=Mike Huckabee Daily Show interview|publisher=Comedy Central|work=The Daily Show|accessdate=9 July 2012}}</ref> Stewart also lambasted the lack of media coverage over the bill's political struggle in Congress.<ref name="stewart_murrow">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/27/business/media/27stewart.html?_r=1|title=Jon Stewart's Advocacy Role in 9/11 Bill Passage|date=2010-12-26|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=9 July 2012|author=Bill Carter|author2=Brian Stelter}}</ref> Stewart's coverage of the Republican filibuster raised media awareness of and public support for the bill, drawing praise from politicians and media outlets. [[White House Press Secretary]] [[Robert Gibbs]] acknowledged Jon Stewart's role in revitalizing support for the Zadroga Act, and ''[[The New York Times]]'' compared Jon Stewart to [[Edward R. Murrow]], describing his coverage of the Zadroga debate as "[[advocacy journalism]]."<ref name="stewart_murrow" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-lauds-jon-stewart-for-pushing-passage-of-9-11-health-bill/|title=White House Lauds Jon Stewart for Pushing Passage of 9/11 Health Bill|last=Madison|first=Lucy|date=December 21, 2010|work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg described Stewart's coverage as "one of the biggest factors that led to the final agreement".<ref name="stewart_murrow" />
[[File:Obama_signs_Zadroga_Act.jpg|thumb|300x300px|President Obama signing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 into law, January 2, 2011, at [[Plantation Estate]] in Hawaii]]On December 19, 2010, New York Senators [[Chuck Schumer]] and [[Kirsten Gillibrand]] introduced a $6.2 billion version of the bill paid for in part by closing a corporate tax loophole and in part by a 2% excise tax on foreign goods that did not include countries with international procurement agreements with the U.S.<ref name="dem_senators" /><ref name="time_stewart" /> On December 22, 2010, Congress approved the final bill, which allocated $4.2 billion towards the program,<ref name="CNN"/> and President Barack Obama signed the [https://911benefits.com/the-zadroga-act/ Zadroga Act] into law on January 2, 2011. This act created the World Trade Center Health Program, which replaced earlier programs (Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program and the WTC Environmental Health Center program).<ref name="WTCHP faq2">{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/wtc/faq.html|title=World Trade Center Health Program FAQ|publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|accessdate=2 July 2012}}</ref> The World Trade Center Health Program provides treatment services and medical benefits for people who worked in response and recovery operations as well as for survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.<ref name="WTCHP faq2" />
On October 1, 2015, the Zadroga Act expired. Jon Stewart went to Congress with first responders and campaigned for the act's re-authorization.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/09/16/media/jon-stewart-911-first-responders-bill/|title=Jon Stewart rallies on Capitol Hill for 9/11 first responders bill|author=Kludt, Tom|date=16 September 2015|work=[[CNN]]|accessdate=12 May 2017}}</ref>  It was reauthorized in December 2015 and its coverage was extended to 75 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/zadroga-act-reauthorization-finally-passes-congress-article-1.2470110|title = Zadroga Act reauthorization finally passes through Congress| website=[[New York Daily News]] | date=19 December 2015 |publisher =|accessdate = 10 September 2016}}</ref>
In February 2019, the Special Master administering the fund "determined that there is not sufficient funding to pay all pending and projected claims," and cut pending claims by 50% and new claims by 70%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vcf.gov/pdf/VCFFIQandA.pdf|title=Determination of Funding Insufficiency: Questions and Answers}}</ref> On June 11, 2019, Jon Stewart testified before the House Judiciary Committee, demanding additional funding.
{{Quote|text="I'm sorry if I sound angry and undiplomatic. But I'm angry, and you should be too, and they're all angry as well and they have every justification to be that way. There is not a person here, there is not an empty chair on that stage that didn't [[Twitter|tweet]] out 'Never Forget the heroes of 9/11. Never forget their bravery. Never forget what they did, what they gave to this country.' Well, here they are. And where are they?
And it would be one thing if their callous indifference and rank hypocrisy were benign, but it's not. Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity: time. It's the one thing they're running out of."|sign=Jon Stewart|source=House Judiciary Committee testimony, June 11, 2019<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-stewart/comedian-jon-stewart-assails-congress-for-ignoring-9-11-first-responders-fund-idUSKCN1TC2L6|title=Comedian Jon Stewart assails Congress for ignoring 9/11 first responders fund|last=Gibson|first=Ginger|date=11 June 2019|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref>}}
The next day the Committee unanimously passed a bill which would permanently reauthorize the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-panel-passes-911-victims-fund-bill-a-day-after-jon-stewarts-emotional-testimony/|title=House panel passes 9/11 victims fund bill a day after Jon Stewart's emotional testimony|last=Segers|first=Grace|date=12 June 2019|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/06/12/732207387/house-judiciary-committee-approves-funds-for-sept-11-first-responders|title=House Judiciary Committee Approves Funds For Sept. 11 First Responders|last=Gonzales|first=Richard|date=12 June 2019|work=[[NPR]]|access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref>
== Impact ==
In 2008, the National Response Team began a multi-agency effort to draft guidelines for protecting the health of emergency responders in the event of future disasters.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.ishn.com/articles/93838-niosh-develops-tool-to-monitor-disaster-responders--health|title = NIOSH develops tool to monitor disaster responders' health|date = August 10, 2012|newspaper = Industrial Safety & Hygiene News (ISHN)|accessdate = March 10, 2014}}</ref> The product of this effort, the [[Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance]] framework, was published in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://nrt.sraprod.com/ERHMS/|title = Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance Document|publisher = National Response Team|accessdate = March 10, 2014}}</ref>
The act allocated $4.2 billion to create the [[World Trade Center Health Program]], which provides testing and treatment for people suffering from long-term health problems related to the 9/11 attacks.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/22/911.bill/index.html|title=Bloomberg urges passage of 9/11 health bill|date=December 20, 2010|work=[[CNN]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327152416/http://articles.cnn.com/2010-12-22/politics/911.bill_1_first-responders-funding-votes-house-members?_s=PM%3APOLITICS|archive-date=March 27, 2012}}</ref><ref name="WTCHP faq">{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/wtc/faq.html|title=World Trade Center Health Program FAQ|publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|accessdate=July 2, 2012}}</ref> The WTC Health Program replaced preexisting 9/11-related health programs such as the Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program and the WTC Environmental Health Center program.<ref name="WTCHP faq" /> The Zadroga Act required the WTC Health Program to begin administering medical benefits on July 1, 2011.<ref name=":0" />
== Reauthorization ==
On December 18, 2015, the '''James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act''' passed as part of the [[Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016]], which extended medical benefits to affected individuals until 2090.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2029/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22zadroga%22%5D%7D&resultIndex=3#toc-HCE4485C66D7944D8A3DA7319213CD33E|title=Text from House Omnibus bill|website=U.S. Congress |date=18 December 2015|access-date=2016-02-12}}</ref>
== Missing funds ==
Beginning in 2016, the Treasury Department withheld payments to the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program established by the Zadroga Act. New York City was using the funds to pay the Department of Health and Human Services, which was not the intended purpose for these funds. By the time this was revealed in 2020, around $3.7 million had been withheld from the FDNY program.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Swanson|first=Ian|date=2020-09-11|title=FDNY says Treasury withheld $3.7M from 9/11 first responder fund|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/516026-nyfd-says-treasury-withheld-37m-from-9-11-first-responder-fund/|access-date=2020-09-13|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en}}</ref>
== References ==
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{{Portal bar|United States|Law|Medicine}}
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[[Category:Aftermath of the September 11 attacks]]
[[Category:Acts of the 111th United States Congress]]
[[Category:Acts of the 114th United States Congress]]