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Protesting 9/11 health reversal
Nesconset based FealGood pushes passage of 9/11 health bill
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| | | Members of the FealGood Foundation protest at Ground Zero Wednesday. Courtesy John Feal (click for larger version) | |
February 04, 2010 | 10:41 AM
Sick 9/11 responders and surviving family of their deceased counterparts protested the Obama administration's reversal of support for their health care at Ground Zero Wednesday.
The locally based FealGood Foundation, New York City Firefighter Foundation, 9/11 Police Aid Foundation and family of sick or deceased responders planned to speak out against the president's failure to support long-term mandatory federal spending on 9/11 health care programs, FealGood founder John Feal of Nesconset said Tuesday. But President Barack Obama had pledged in his 2008 campaign to support such funding, he said.
"We're going to educate the president and his administration because they obviously haven't done their homework on the catastrophic effects of 9/11 on its responders," Feal said. The president's move suggests the terrible events of Sept. 11, 2001, are already dimming in the national memory, highlighting the need to make permanent funding for victims, Feal argued.
"Shall we rely on 'discretionary budgetary spending' 20 years from now when the World Trade Center attack is a distant memory to new administrations?" queried a Monday FealGood Foundation release.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Katherine Sebelius told the New York Congressional delegation Jan. 27 that the administration opposes the mandatory long-term medical spending for Ground Zero workers and members of the surrounding community required in the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act under consideration in Congress, according to a release from Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan), sponsor of the bill.
While the 2011 budget proposed by President Obama this week more than doubles one year spending on 9/11 related health care from $70 to $150 million, according to Maloney, advocates of 9/11 responders say they are frustrated with the mixed signals. While they say they appreciate the short-term funding boost, they seek a guarantee of continued medical coverage as their injuries persist and illnesses worsen in the future.
The 9/11 bill would provide $11 billion in federal funding over 30 years for programs treating those suffering medical conditions due to proximity to the hazardous conditions and harmful fumes at Ground Zero following 9/11. Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), a cosponsor of the bill, vowed Tuesday to continue to fight for its passage. "We must keep our promises to the brave first responders and their families who have sacrificed so much," Bishop stated in a Tuesday email.
The congressman said he approves of the president's plan to boost funding in 2010. "However his actions only underscore the need for permanent legislation, so that the treatment of sick and dying 9/11 responders is not subject to the unpredictability of the annual budget process," Bishop added.
"Good news for one year isn't enough to allay the fears of families of these 9/11 heroes that they could be bankrupted by health costs five or fifteen years down the road," Maloney stated.
If the 9/11 health care bill fails to pass by March, Feal — who lost half his foot to a falling beam while working as a demolition supervisor at Ground Zero — said he is considering walking from Manhattan to D.C in protest. "I won't be able to walk that whole way, but I will be able to crawl," Feal said. "I will make them feel ashamed."
If passed by Congress, despite administration statements last week, advocates of the bill speculate that Obama wouldn't have the will to veto it. "I highly doubt the president is going to turn this away when it gets to his desk," Feal said, a sentiment echoed by a Bishop spokesman.
Update: At the Senate Democratic Policy Committee Issues Conference Wednesday, Pres. Obama pledged to work with lawmakers to provide funding for medical care of 9/11 related injuries and illnesses, according to a transcript released by the White House.
In response to a question from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) regarding the president's position on the 9/11 health care bill, he responded: "I fully commit to working with you guys."
"I confess, Kirsten, I have not looked at all the details of your legislation," the president said. "But I know that not only you and Chuck [Schumer], but everybody here, wants to make sure that those who showed such extraordinary courage and heroism during 9/11, that they are fittingly cared for, and that's going to be something that we are going to be very interested in working with you on."
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