Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Applauds Bi-Partisan Passage of 9/11 Health and Compensation Act

(WASHINGTON, DC)– Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6), Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Financial Services Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade, applauded the passage of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act that was first passed in the House on September 29, 2010 and has now passed in both houses. This bill will provide long-term, comprehensive health care and fair economic compensation to 9/11 first responders and survivors. This legislation was named in honor of a police officer, James Zadroga, who died at the age of 34 from respiratory diseases contracted at Ground Zero. This bill will build on current World Trade Center health programs by providing long-term, comprehensive health care and compensation to approximately 65,000 responders and about 25,000 survivors.

“The lives of Americans across this country changed in the matter of a few hours when the worst terrorist attack in the history of our nation happened on American soil. The bi-partisan passage of this legislation will extremely benefit those firefighters, police officers, EMTs, construction workers, U.S. military personnel and other first responders who demonstrated strong heroism during this tragedy that are still feeling the effects of 9/11 today. Being a New Yorker I endured first-hand the impact that occurred on 9/11 and the effects that are still felt today by my constituents, those in New York and across this country,” stated Congressman Meeks.

Below are the changes that have been made in the Senate on H.R. 847, the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act:

• Provide a total of $4.3 billion in funding for the health and compensation titles of the bill.

• Cap federal funding for the health program over five years at $1.5 billion (New York City will contribute 10% of the cost). Any funds not spent in the first five years may be carried over and expended in the sixth year of the program.

• Reopen the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) for five years to file claims, with payments to be made over six years. Fund the VCF at $2.8 billion for six years, with $.8 billion available for payments in the first five years and $2.0 billion available for payment in year six. Claims will be paid in 2 installments—one payment in the first five years, and a second payment in the sixth year of the program.

• The pay for in the House-passed version of the bill has been replaced by a 2 percent fee on government procurement from foreign companies located in non-GPA countries and a one-year extension of H-B1 and L-1 Visa fees for outsourcing companies. These are estimated by CBO to collect $4.59 billion over the 10-year scoring period for the bill.

• The bill is not only fully paid for, but will reduce the deficit by $450 million over the 10-year scoring period.

Others changes made in the bill to address Republican concerns:

• Requiring that the Centers of Excellence report claims data to HHS so that costs and utilization of services can be fully monitored.

• Specifying the non-treatment services furnished by Centers of Excellence to be funded under the health program (e.g. outreach, social services, data collection, development of treatment protocols).

• Authorizing the World Trade Center Program Administrator to designate the Veteran’s Administration as a provider for WTC health services.

• Directing the Special Master to develop rules to implement the VCF within 180 days of passage of the legislation.

“I would like to applaud my colleagues in both the House and the Senate for the passage of this bill that will benefit those first responders and survivors who sacrificed their lives by receiving the proper comprehensive healthcare that they deserve,” stated Congressman Meeks.

Now serving in his sixth full-term, Meeks was elected to the House on February 3, 1998. Representing New York's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, Meeks' district covers all towns of Southeast Queens, Far Rockaway and Howard Beach. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Congressman Meeks is the Chairman of the International Monetary Policy & Trade Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee. He is a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), New Democrats Coalition and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). He serves as the Co-chair of the Malaysia Caucus, Services Caucus, Dialogue Caucus, OAS Caucus and the Middle East Economic Partnership Caucus.