WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) today voted for legislation that would provide health care services and compensation to individuals who are experiencing health problems as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act will reopen the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and provide funding for a health program to monitor and treat those with health conditions related to the terrorist attacks.
“There have been few events in our nation’s history as traumatic as the attacks we suffered on September 11, 2001,” Himes said, “I watched that day as first responders and volunteers from Connecticut and other states came to New York City to lend a hand at Ground Zero. These brave citizens now need our help.”
The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act will provide specialized treatment services for both responders – emergency personnel, rescue, and clean up workers who responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania – and survivors – residents, workers, students and children who returned to the World Trade Center area in the days after the attacks. This legislation is fully paid for and does not increase the deficit. This bill was initially brought before the House of Representatives in July, but passage was blocked by Republicans. The bill passed today with bipartisan support on a vote of 268 to 160.
The legislation now moves to the Senate where the Congressman hopes it will be approved.
“I am a proud cosponsor of this bill and am grateful that partisanship is finally behind us. I urge the Senate to take up this legislation so that these men and women may be compensated for their courageous actions.”