Fed Gov’t To 9/11 Cancer Victims: Drop Dead

According to the Federal Government, the Zadroga Act, which was created in order to provide medical care for people exposed to 9/11 dust, does not apply to the increasing numbers of cancer victims who claim their sickness was caused by carcinogens released into the air in the aftermath of that day’s terrorist attacks.

Dr. John Howard, the doctor in charge of overseeing the program says there’s not enough proof the dust, created by the collapse of WTC buildings 1, 2 and 7, resulted in the cancer. And until that link can be proven, cancer victims who were healthy and in lower Manhattan at the time of the attack will not benefit from the $2.7 Billion made available by the statute.

Today, the bill’s three authors- who all represent the NYC area, U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, and Peter King, released a joint statement which reminded the public that Dr. Howard’s decision was the result of preliminary findings, which could very well change:

“As the sponsors of the Zadroga Act, we are disappointed that Dr. Howard has not yet found sufficient evidence to support covering cancers.  This is disappointing news for 9/11 responders and survivors who tragically have been diagnosed with cancer since the attacks and are suffering day-to-day and awaiting help.  We are confident that studies on the effects of the toxins at ground zero -research that, under the Zadroga Act, can be funded and fully supported for the first time- will ultimately provide the scientific evidence that Dr. Howard needs to make this determination.  Thankfully, we know that today’s announcement is not the last word on the inclusion of cancers in the program.

The collapse of the Trade Center towers released a cloud of poisons, including carcinogens, throughout lower Manhattan and we fully expect that cancers will be covered under our legislation.”

Around 60,000 people are currently being monitored for the program.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler represents New York’s 8th Congressional District. It includes Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, SoHo, Greenwich Village, TriBeCa, the Financial District and Battery Park City.  In Brooklyn, the 8th District includes parts of Borough Park, Red Hook, Sunset Park, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Gravesend, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Seagate.