Among the items that were included in the final version of the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last week was $676 million in funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), providing millions in coverage support for responders to the 9/11 aftermath.
The WTCHP was created in 2011 and authorized for five years as a way to guarantee medical treatment and monitoring for 9/11 responders and survivors suffering the effects of toxins from their work at Ground Zero. Survivors and responders at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, the Shanksville, Pa., crash site, as well as children in schools in downtown Manhattan and during clean-up were all included. Adverse health effects were the primary concern, with the understanding that more could emerge in the coming years.
The program was reauthorized in 2015, with an end date extended to 2090. In 2022, lawmakers granted $1 billion for the program, but it was not enough to cover the anticipated costs of service for the more than 120,000 9/11 responders and survivors nationwide.
Included in the NDAA was legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) called the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act. The legislation will provide $444 million to close the WTCHP funding gap and another $232 million to extend coverage for military and civilian responders.
“This funding will go a long way towards addressing the impending shortfall and ensuring that, in addition to those at Ground Zero, all survivors and first responders who ran towards danger at the Pentagon and in Shanksville receive the care that they deserve,” Garbarino said. “I, along with Congressman D’Esposito who is a critical partner in working to address the shortfall, will continue to fight for all those impacted by 9/11-related illnesses. We will not rest until the WTCHP is fully funded for all who need it.”