Governor cuts fund for 9/11 survivors, Republicans join Democrats’ condemnation

In a rare counterattack against President Donald J. Trump, a congressional Republican coalition from the New York area denounced the president for cutting federal plans that exert help on emergency workers and other toxins linked to the September 11 terrorist attack, 2001.

In a letter to Mr. Trump, seven Republicans urged Mr. Trump to “as a local New Yorker in New York, he recovered from the 9/11 terrorist attacks but cut it to the World Trade Center Health Plan And re-delivered to the staff who were fired a few days ago.

They responded to immediate protests from Democratic lawmakers and advocates, when cuts began late last week as part of Elon Musk’s so-called government efficiency division or Doge, which is cutting back Spend and eliminate the work of a large number of federal agencies. On Monday, New York-based Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand sent a letter asking for a resumption of cuts.

The Republicans’ initial reaction was softer, but by Wednesday it became increasingly obvious that the reflex to the shooting was widespread, with Republican resistance increasing, especially in and around New York City, where Commemorating 9/11. Still have strong resonance.

“Reducing staff will only make it harder for the program to monitor its contracts and take care of members of brave men and women who ran towards and helped the danger after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.” The letter reads.

It was largely written by Representative Andrew R. Garbarino, a Republican from Long Island, and was written by five other Republican congressional colleagues from New York and New Jersey representative Chris Smith (Chris Smith) co-written. Other congressional co-signers are Nick Lalota, Mike Lawler, Claudia Tenney, Nicole Malliotakis and Nick Langworthy, both supporters of Mr. Trump.

Congressional delegates said the staff of 90 members of the World Trade Center health program decreased by about 20% as 16 probationary personnel who oversee and manage the program were fired, while others accepted the acquisition and terminated the program. employees and advocates.

The program is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was recently taken over by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Mr. Trump was appointed secretary.

The cuts are part of a wide range of agency layoffs, ending thousands of trial health and public service staff last week.

Delegates also urged Mr. Trump to resume funding for research conducted by the New York Fire Department, which compared the incidence of his rank with disease in other urban departments, a grant considered “unnecessary.”

“This is far from the truth,” the letter said.

David J. Pat, chief medical officer of the fire department.

The program provides important medical services to its members and conducts research on the health impacts of attacks and related conditions.

Advocates say cuts will delay new enrollment and allow fewer employees to address patients’ problems and assist with diagnosis and treatment.

“These cuts are really crucial,” said Anthony Gardner, 48, who said he received a notice of firing on Saturday. “For some members, they really may be the difference between life and death.”

“The team has exposed their bones and is understaffed, so I really hope Secretary Kennedy looks at these layoffs and hopes to re-effect and prevent any further reductions.”

In a letter to Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Schumer and Ms. Gillibrand pointed out that when they met him before the confirmation hearing, Mr. Kennedy was committed to ensuring that emergency workers and survivors on 9/11 will continue to receive the necessary care. . In the letter, they urged him to reverse the staff’s “reckless and counterproductive termination” to ensure service to “those who answered the phone on 9/11 now suffer from respiratory illness, cancer and other conditions.”

The program now helps 137,000 members, established by Congress in 2011 as part of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Payroll Act of 2011, for emergency workers, clean up staff and residency Manhattan people in lower Manhattan provide treatment on ground zero.

It also includes crash sites at the crash sites in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon.

John Feal, a retired construction worker from Long Island, said cuts could worsen the existing backlog for new entrants in the program, his 2001 cleanup at the World Trade Center and Injured during recovery work.

“Cutting is reckless and inhumane – they have done even greater damage to survivors who have suffered over the past 24 years,” Mr. Phil teamed up with Jon Stewart, host of the Daily Show, to U.S. Congressmen lobbied for support for the compensation fund.

“If you don’t have it, people will die, which is simple,” Mr Phil said of the fund. “If you have stage 3 lung cancer, you will wait longer to get certified for the disease.”

Department of Health and Human Services officials did not respond to the news Wednesday, nor did White House officials.

Citizen Extension James Zadroga Act’s citizen executive director Benjamin Chevat called for a resumption of work while other stopped businesses restarted “so that responders and survivors on 9/11 can get nothing Get the care they need without delay.”

He said the cuts would reduce employees’ ability to respond to patient complaints and intervene in prescriptions and treatment issues.

Fire Department Commissioner Robert Tucker said the plan “a lifeline for sick 9/11 responders who selflessly gave a lot.”

He added: “This will hinder our efforts to provide a therapeutic range for new conditions, which is a tragedy for all Americans who swear not to forget.”