Schumer, Gillibrand continue to push WTC Health Program funds, but outlook remains uncertain

WASHINGTON — New York Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand on Wednesday continued to rally support for a spending measure that would boost funding for the World Trade Center Health Program, as the fate of the measure remained tenuous ahead of a planned vote this week.

A Homeland Security spending bill released Tuesday includes a provision that would address a potential $3 billion funding shortfall facing the 9/11 health program over the next decade. But the provision is just one piece of a more than 1,000-page bill that also funds U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal security agencies.

Several top House Democrats said Wednesday they plan to oppose the overall spending bill, as they called for more provisions to hold ICE accountable for aggressive tactics and violent encounters with demonstrators.

Meanwhile, several House conservatives argued that the bill does not go far enough in providing ICE support to enact President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda. House Republicans hold a 218-213 edge over Democrats, leaving little wiggle room to pass a bill along purely partisan lines.

Schumer, in a brief phone interview with Newsday, said ensuring the passage of the 9/11 funding is critical as the program, which serves about 135,000 people grappling with diseases tied to their exposure from the Sept. 11, 2001, attack sites, is set to face a budget shortfall starting next year.

"It protects the program from shortfalls, even as enrollment grows and new health illnesses are identified," Schumer said.

Gillibrand said in a statement that  "allowing a funding shortfall to disrupt access" to health care "would be a betrayal" to the service of 9/11 first responders and survivors.

Schumer and Gillibrand have been building support for the provision in the Senate, as Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and other New York lawmakers have been pushing for its passage in the House.

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.