Our Commitment to the 9/11 Community

We would like to take a moment to share with you some of our work on behalf of the 9/11 community.

On September 11, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the 9/11 Notice Act. We are proud to have worked closely with the New York State Legislature to pass the bill. The bill will require businesses to inform their their employees who returned to work in Lower Manhattan on and after 9/11 of their right to register for free health care and compensation.

After more than a decade of advocacy, the World Trade Center Health Program added uterine and endometrial cancers to its list of covered conditions, a victory for women in the 9/11 community to access free health care and compensation. Partner Sara Director and the Barasch & McGarry team fought tirelessly on behalf of hundreds of 9/11 responders and survivors for the addition of uterine cancer.

We have also continued our fight for Congress to fully fund the World Trade Center Health Program, collaborating with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and the New York State congressional delegation to address the shortfall in funding health care for 9/11 community members and to increase Health Program staffing to provide better service.

Maintaining a close working relationship with the Victim Compensation Fund, we were asked to join the Voices Center for Resilience panel, introducing the new VCF Special Master Allison Lee Turkel.

In an effort to constantly spread the word about the Health Program and VCF, our team participated in events in New York City and across the United States. We were invited to speak at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, a FEMA conference in San Antonio, Staten Island FDNY and NYPD retiree meetings, and the annual Retired NYPD Florida luncheon. We continuously strive to educate the public.

To commemorate the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, 50 attorneys and staff members from Barasch & McGarry participated in a day of service with 9/11 Day at the Intrepid Museum, packing meals for Americans at risk of hunger.

In partnership with the September 11 Memorial & Museum, Barasch & McGarry team members also visited the Ground Zero site for a professional development session focusing on advocacy efforts in the 9/11 community.

In addition, we were thrilled when four of our staff members were accepted into the 2023 FBI Citizens Academy, completing a fascinating 8-week program on how to help make our communities safer.

Mike Barasch’s decades-long support for first responders garnered him recognition this year. Not only did he receive the National NYPD 10-13 Man of the Year award, but he was also invited to join the Firefighter Cancer Support Network board. Mike is fiercely committed to addressing the unique health challenges faced by our brave first responders.

Even today, nine out of ten 9/11 survivors have not yet enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program or registered with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.

At Barasch & McGarry, we stand with the 9/11 community as legal advocates and active participants in an ongoing journey towards healing, resilience, and justice. We are honored to represent the 9/11 community.

Please Be Each Other’s Advocate

• Spread the word about the Victim Compensation Fund and the World Trade Center Health Program. Go to 911victims.com/referrals to provide contact information of family or friends who would like our help. A member of our legal team will reach out to them.