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WTC Health Program

Tell Congress to Fund 9/11 Health Care

April 3, 2025 | Michael Barasch

In 2010, 2015, and 2019, we asked our thousands of 9/11 clients to contact their representatives in Congress and urge them to pass and extend the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Thanks to your efforts, 99% of the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives voted to establish and then permanently extend both the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). Presidents Obama and Trump immediately signed those bills into law.

Unfortunately, we need your help again.

Today, the WTC Health Program confronts an impending budget shortfall, mostly as result of increasing costs of medical inflation and an explosion of cancer in the 9/11 community.

Mike Barasch, Retired FDNY Lt. Mike O’Connell, and 9/11 responder and advocate John Feal on the steps of the Capitol this summer advocating for additional WTC Health Program benefits.

As you know, 69 cancers and many respiratory illnesses have been linked to Ground Zero toxins.

As more 9/11 community members are diagnosed with cancer, the costs of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation have skyrocketed.

Mike Barasch and 9/11 advocate John Feal recently walked the halls of Congress to remind legislators of their promise to the 9/11 community. We will be back as often as needed to secure this additional funding.

Unless Congress authorizes additional funding, new applicants may be denied enrollment in the health program starting in 2027. Services for current participants could be reduced in subsequent years.

Please contact your Representatives in Congress and urge them to support legislation fully funding the WTC Health Program.

Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act created a tool to help you contact your representatives.


How to contact your Representative:

1. Click here to visit the James Zadroga Act website.

2. Type in your address. It will tell you who your members of Congress are.

3. From there, you can type in your phone number, and you will be connected to your Representative, free of charge, so you can talk to their staff and tell them you want their boss to sponsor this important legislation.

Thank you for joining in this effort and calling your member of Congress today.

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4 replies on “Tell Congress to Fund 9/11 Health Care”

Is emphysema considered a terminal condition?
I am certified for that and three other conditions . My info is currently with VCF. My emphysema is currently moderately severe. The natural progression of this condition will advance to severe in the next year. Prior
to that I am prone to fatal heart attacks and various pneumonia’s due to side effects of emphysema.

I will be a positive part of those that are sick,and continue to become sicker due to 911. We need medical help and healing at this point. It was not comfortable having the radiation I had to go though. And taking medication that caused more pain in my joints the first week of taking it. This is bigger than just saying no more help we’ve coming to an end of support. Support should never stop for us the funds are there. Help those that need it!! My husband died he had cancer of the foot. Nothing was ever paid to him nor did this come up at any Dr. appointments. This has to be better for the survivors of this tragedy.

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