House passes measure to fully fund 9/11 WTC health program through 2040

WASHINGTON — A measure that would ensure the 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program remains fully funded was approved by the U.S. House on Thursday, setting it up for a final vote in the U.S. Senate next week.

The House, in a 341-88 vote, approved a budget package that includes a provision aimed at resolving the potential $3 billion funding shortfall facing the health program over the next decade. The Senate is expected to take up the bill next week, where Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have been pushing for its passage.

The program, which provides health care to more than 135,000 first responders and others who have fallen ill from their exposure to the Sept. 11, 2001 attack sites, would receive the necessary funding to address the anticipated budget shortfall through 2040.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R- Bayport), the lead sponsor of the measure in the House, who negotiated its inclusion in the budget package as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said after the vote that "responders and survivors must always receive the care they were promised without delays or disruption."

First responders and Sept. 11 advocates, who have fought hard for years for the program to remain fully funded in the face of rising cases of cancers and deadly diseases among the survivor community, said they remain hopeful Thursday’s vote clears the way for passage in the Senate.

"It is clear Congressman Garbarino’s determination on getting the funding for the World Trade Center Health Program fixed and preventing any cuts in services was crucial to getting this done," said Benjamin Chevat, executive director of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act. "Working in a bipartisan effort with Senators Gillibrand and Schumer, he has worked on this issue tirelessly since he got to Congress and this wouldn't have happened without his leadership."

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.