Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09),  Chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and Co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, released the following statement on House Republican proposals to temporarily reauthorize the 9/11 Health Programs. [November 2, 2015]

“I am disheartened by the recent House Republican proposals to reauthorize the 9/11 Health Programs temporarily and without adequate funding. Our first responders and their families deserve much, much better and I am prepared to fight with them for the permanent program renewal we need. The brave men and women who answered the call of duty on that tragic day still suffer the effects of the airborne toxins at Ground Zero, and under no circumstance should they be left holding the bag for their medical costs – nor should they have to come to Congress again in five years and ask for these important programs to be reauthorized again. Additionally, the funding allocated to the Victim’s Compensation Fund is shamefully low.

James Zadroga’s selfless sacrifice represents the best our nation has to offer, so it’s fitting this legislation is named in his honor. The Congress must pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act, of which I am an original cosponsor. In fact, this bipartisan bill has been cosponsored by a majority of the House. I hope newly elected Speaker Paul Ryan will respect the will of the Congress and take the steps necessary to bring up the bipartisan Zadroga bill and pass it into law. It is time for Congress to stop this unnecessary delay and end the uncertainty facing the innocent men and women who did not hesitate to answer the call when our nation was attacked. We must will do right by these heroes and continue the progress we have made since the law’s initial passage.”

Pascrell held an public event in May in North Arlington, New Jersey, to call on the House to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act. The bipartisan legislation is named in honor of James Zadroga, a North Arlington resident and New York City Police Department officer, who died of a respiratory disease that has been attributed to his participation in rescue and recovery operations following the September 11th attacks. Along with providing medical monitoring and treatment for 9/11 first responders, the Zadroga legislation would also extend the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, which provides monetary compensation for those physically injured by the attacks or by response activities and debris removal. These programs would be made permanent under the reauthorization.