September 6, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10211 refine that process. We need to be pro- that day has continued for thousands will be joining the working men and moting more nuclear. We need to have of our fellow Americans who are suf- women of City’s labor move- all the renewables that we can produce; fering with illnesses and injuries ment in a rally to send a message loud but, unfortunately, there are only a lit- caused by the attacks, but are not get- and clear that the time is now to sup- tle bit over a percentage today. And ting the help they need. port our heroes of 9/11. Six years is long many people are holding that out as When people hear that the men and enough. the answer. I wish that was the answer; women who rushed in to save the lives Along with the New York State AFL– I would be all for it. But those that are of others on that terrible day, who CIO, the Central Labor telling us that we can conserve and re- worked to clean up the site, who Council and the Building and Construc- newables will be our energy portfolio worked in construction, I remember tion Trades Council, we will be showing are not being honest with the Amer- that day there were signs everywhere, honor, support and respect for the con- ican public. ‘‘iron workers, report for duty,’’ retired tributions and sacrifices of the heroes Just to show you, just a few months workers, all workers to the site. These and heroines of 9/11. And we will be ral- ago a bill was introduced in this body men and women rushed to the site lying for action from the government that said, if a bird or a bat is found at thinking of others, not of themselves; to care for the thousands of people who the foot of a windmill, it would be a and many of them are sick and they have become sick because of the toxins criminal act. And that same day I need our help now. of Ground Zero. think the Wind Association, and God The collapse of the World Trade Cen- With the strong support of the AFL– bless them, I’m for them, but they ter towers took nearly 3,000 lives in an CIO, Representative NADLER and I are stated that we would be at 20 percent instant and released a massive cloud of preparing to introduce, along with Con- of the energy portfolio in a very short asbestos, pulverized concrete and other gressman FOSSELLA and many others, time, I think in 10 years. I wish that poisons. These toxins have sickened new comprehensive legislation to do was true, but it’s not true. We can’t get thousands and have killed at least just that. The 9/11 Health and Com- there that quick. The wind only blows eight, but likely dozens more Ameri- pensation Act will ensure that every- a portion of the time, and we have not cans, in the years since 9/11. one exposed to the Ground Zero toxins been able to store the energy and keep On 9/11, 500 of my neighbors and con- has a right to be medically monitored, it and use it later. It only blows part of stituents lost their lives. That was and all who are sick as a result have a more than any other district. We lost the time. We have to have a redundant right for treatment. source, clean green natural gas, and a up to 3,000 people, but thousands and It will build on the expertise of the complete portfolio for America so we thousands more lost their health; and Centers for Excellence, which are cur- can have jobs in America, so Ameri- we need to be there to help them now. rently providing high-quality care to The gray dust that billowed through cans can heat their homes, run their thousands of responders and ensuring Lower that day is said to businesses, and compete in the world an ongoing data collection and anal- have been as caustic as drain cleaner. economy. We can compete with any- ysis, expanding care to the entire ex- body if we’re given a fair shake; but we It settled in the homes of Lower Man- hattan, in downtown schools, play- posed community. must have available, affordable energy The bill also includes care for area grounds and parks, and in the lungs of if America is going to continue to be a residents, workers, and school children, tens of thousands of Americans. These leader of the world. as well as the thousands of people that forgotten victims of 9/11 either lived or f came from across the country to assist worked downtown, courageously volun- THE TIME IS NOW TO SUPPORT teered for rescue and recovery oper- with recovery and clean-up efforts. Finally, it provides compensation for HEROES OF 9/11 ations at Ground Zero, or merely hap- economic damages and loss by reopen- pened to be in Lower Manhattan, a The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under ing the September 11, 2001 Victims the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- school child, a worker, on one of the Compensation Fund. I have been work- uary 18, 2007, the gentlewoman from worst mornings our country has ever ing for years to make this happen, New York (Mrs. MALONEY) is recog- known. And right now, more than 6,500 along with all of the members of the nized for 60 minutes as the designee of responders, truly the heroes and hero- New York delegation. And I am very the majority leader. ines of 9/11, are being treated for 9/11- Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I related health problems through the proud to be working with Representa- thank the Speaker from the great federally funded World Trade Center tive NADLER, with the strong support State of New York for yielding me this Medical Monitoring and Treatment of the New York AFL–CIO, to move time on this incredibly important Program. And more than 5,000 have this comprehensive, bipartisan bill issue. been referred for mental health care, through Congress. And, Mr. Speaker, as we approach the often for conditions like post-trau- We are united as a delegation; we are sixth anniversary of the tragic events matic stress syndrome. Every month, united with labor; we are united at the of September 11, I appreciate the op- another 500 to 1,000 responders sign up various levels of government, and we portunity to speak today about one of for health monitoring, and those com- are truly committed. We will not stop, the most important issues facing my ing in are more sick than ever before. and we will continue to work every sin- district, my hometown of New York In all, more than 70,000 Americans re- gle day and hour to make sure that City and our Nation. ported to the World Trade Center this happens. Six years, six long years I am so proud to be here today with Health Registry, and they were near is long enough for the men and women my colleague and good friend from Ground Zero in the days following 9/11 who are sick because they rushed into Manhattan, JERRY NADLER, who has and have serious concerns about their burning buildings to save the lives of been a tireless advocate for everyone health. others, to work on a deadly pile where who has become sick from the toxins of As you would expect, the majority of the toxins infected their lungs. 9/11. His district includes Ground Zero, those registered are from New York, Once again, the 9/11 health crisis is a and our work together on this issue can , and Connecticut. But what national emergency that was caused by truly move this forward. many people may not know is that an attack on our country. Only the I want to note that a number of New more than 10,000 Americans from out- Federal Government has the resources Yorkers will be with me today, Con- side the tri-state area have also signed and the reach to properly address the gressman FOSSELLA, , up for the registry. Amazingly, every health and compensation needs of JOHN HALL, . AND STEVE single State and 431 of the 435 congres- thousands of Americans from across , if he was not in the Chair being sional districts nationwide have some- this Nation whose health was com- the Speaker, he would be down here on one in the World Trade Center Registry promised by the World Trade Center the floor talking about the six men and in New York City. This is a health attacks. women from 9/11 who need our help, emergency on a national scale, and it I must say that we would not have and possibly Chairman PALLONE. requires a strong Federal response. moved forward as we have with some Mr. Speaker, the death toll from 9/11 This Saturday at Ground Zero, many funding and some help without the is still growing, and the nightmare of of us on the floor here this afternoon complete support of the Democratic

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:58 Sep 07, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06SE7.077 H06SEPT1 bajohnson on PRODPC61 with HOUSE H10212 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 6, 2007 leadership. Chairman OBEY, who has gear. Thousands of first responders in- interstitial lung diseases and reactive put money in the appropriations bill, haled this poisonous dust before it set- airway disease. Speaker , who has met tled onto and into countless homes, A recent New York Times article with the sick and injured workers shops and office buildings in the area. highlighted the clear link between the many, many times here in the Capitol, For the past 6 years, we have de- World Trade Center dust and life- along with Majority Leader STENY manded that the EPA fulfill its legal threatening diseases. The article cited HOYER and others. This is a united mandate to protect the public health the report from doctors from the Fire Democratic and Republican effort to by telling the truth about post-9/11 air Department of New York and the Al- help the sick people that are sick be- quality and by implementing a sci- bert Einstein College of Medicine, cause of the attack on America. entifically sound testing and cleanup which again confirms what we have The solutions I have outlined this program to address indoor contamina- known for years, that we are facing a afternoon are neither easy nor inexpen- tion. They have absolutely failed on major health crisis as a result of Sep- sive, but they are part of our country’s both fronts. tember 11. moral obligation. As the wealthiest While America watched these brave These studies do not even address the country in the world, it is our duty to men and women working fearlessly at students at care for those who responded to an act the World Trade Center site, their gov- and the Borough of Manhattan Com- of war. These were the first veterans of ernment failed them and continues to munity Colleges, schools that sat near the act of war. They are veterans; they fail them. As the Nation and the world piles of debris from the Towers, the should be treated with health care. We united in solidarity, our government, nearby residents’ apartments still con- must take care of the people who took this administration, put politics over tain poisonous dust or the thousands of care of us following 9/11. Many risked science and safety. people that work in offices that were their lives, and many, many more Federal law mandates that when never properly cleaned. These factors risked their health. It is the least we there is a terrorist attack in which combined present an unprecedented can do as a grateful Nation. The time toxins are released into the air, both challenge to public health not just to to act is now. Six years is long enough. the Environmental Protection Agency New York City but across the country. I would now like to recognize my col- and the Occupational Safety and In the days and weeks after 9/11, league and dear friend from the Lower Health Administration have specific workers and volunteers came from East Side who has been a tireless advo- responsibilities. EPA is charged with across the country to help. The great cate for everyone who has become sick the cleanup and is the lead agency to citizens of this country came together, from the toxins. His district includes deal with the pollution. The American but the Federal Government has failed Ground Zero. And our work together on public deserves to know why and how in its obligations. To this day there has this issue can truly move this issue for- that did not happen. We are getting been no comprehensive testing and ward. some answers though, painstakingly. cleanup of the affected areas, and to Congressman NADLER is recognized As Chair of the Subcommittee on this day, there is no adequate provision for 5 minutes. Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil for long-term monitoring of health Liberties, I chaired a hearing in June care of the people who suffered in the 1545 b on the failures of the Federal Govern- aftermath of the World Trade Center Mr. NADLER. I thank the gentle- ment in responding to the environ- disaster. woman for yielding. I must say that I mental crisis that resulted from the Now we are making, finally, small am from the , not the World Trade Center attacks. Senator strides in providing health care to Lower East Side, although my district CLINTON held a companion hearing in those who became ill. The emergency does cover part of the Lower East Side, the Senate. At the hearing we heard for supplemental appropriations bill and that is certainly no insult. the first time from Christine Todd passed earlier this year because of the Mrs. MALONEY of New York. We are Whitman, the former administrator of efforts of Mrs. MALONEY and myself all in it together, East Side, West Side, the EPA, who said her agency did noth- and other members of the New York all around the town. All around the Na- ing wrong, that they were honest with delegation included $50 million for 9/11 tion, really. the public and that they listened to health needs. The 2008 House Labor- Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I do their scientists. But we know that EPA HHS appropriations bill includes $50 thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I lied and to this day continues lying. million for the World Trade Center want to thank her for her leadership on We know that early tests revealed high monitoring and treatment program. this issue. I am pleased that we will levels of asbestos and other toxins and I was also extremely pleased to learn soon be introducing legislation to- that EPA in statements vetted through from Senator CLINTON that the Senate gether to provide long-term health care the White House misled the public with appropriations subcommittee has in- to all the first responders, residents, their assurances that the air was safe cluded $55 million in their version of area workers and students who have to breathe. Independent scientists who the labor appropriations bill. The Sen- become sick as a result of the collapse testified in the hearing said that no ate version of the bill includes funding of the World Trade Center. Our legisla- amount of asbestos should be consid- for residents, offices of commercial tion will build on the efforts of the ered safe and that everyone knew that workers, volunteers and students. I Centers of Excellence of New York City those buildings contained asbestos, hope the House will follow suit in mak- and will extend to people who came hundreds of thousands of pounds of it ing Federal funding available for resi- from all over the country to aid in the before the buildings collapsed and re- dents too. massive rescue and recovery effort leased it into the air. But much more remains to be done. after 9/11. Indeed, there is no doubt that thou- The estimates of the costs are not $50 When the World Trade Center col- sands of people are sick as a result of million a year but starting at $198 mil- lapsed on that sunny morning 6 years the contamination at the World Trade lion and expanding to $400 million a ago, a plume of poisonous dust Center. Thousands of people are sick year as more people become sick in the blanketed lower Manhattan, and not who would not be sick today if they next few years. And we need to develop just Lower Manhattan, but parts of had not been lied to by their own gov- a comprehensive approach to 9/11 and possibly Jersey City, too. ernment and worked without protec- health that includes residents, nonfirst The cloud was a toxic mixture of lead, tion on the pile for 13 and 14 and 15 responder workers and school children. dioxin, asbestos, mercury, benzene, weeks. We need to secure funding that is not PCBs and other hazardous contami- A study by Mount Sinai Hospital subject to the yearly appropriations nants that swirled around the site found that 70 percent of the more than battle. We must commit ourselves to where the World Trade Center once 9,000 first responders who were studied act and to help all of those who are stood. The cloud blanketed the area as suffered health problems related to still waiting. That is why we are going rescue and recovery workers worked their work at Ground Zero. These to introduce the bill that Mrs. around the clock. Many did so without health problems include things like MALONEY referred to a few minutes ago adequate or without any protective chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, to provide a long-term comprehensive

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:58 Sep 07, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06SE7.078 H06SEPT1 bajohnson on PRODPC61 with HOUSE September 6, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10213 funding source, a bill that I hope this about the heroes of 9/11, we must do vocates for ensuring that the people House will consider. two things. We must provide legisla- who, regrettably, either are not known But in addition, there’s a second tion and funding for long-term moni- about or too often are forgotten, those cover-up. I have always said there are toring and health care such as that are the folks that have been rep- two cover-ups conducted here. One that Mrs. MALONEY and I and others resented so well by Mrs. MALONEY and about the health care disaster that fol- have been talking about in the legisla- mentioned by Mr. NADLER, people who lowed 9/11; that cover-up has unraveled. tion that we are introducing. We must are suffering today. In the last year with the revelations of also prevail upon the administration, There is one thing I know about the the Mount Sinai study, the New York by legislation if necessary, to do the American people. If they know that Daily News reports and other reports proper indoor testing the way the EPA their fellow citizens are suffering, espe- that have come out, now everybody Inspector General said, and then to do cially those who responded to that recognizes that first responders and proper cleanup. Not a cleanup that the tragedy on 9/11, they will be willing to residents are suffering, thousands and EPA’s own scientific advisory panel help. So I think it is part of our job, a thousands of them, because of the air says is a joke and a fraud, not the very important role here is that we pollution after 9/11, because of the gov- cleanup that the EPA’s Inspector Gen- continue to inform not just the Con- ernment lying to them and saying that eral says is a joke and a fraud, a proper gress, but really, by extension, the the air was safe to breathe and there- cleanup that does the entire building, American people that there are thou- fore they didn’t use respiratory equip- that looks at all pollutants, not just sands of people who need our help. ment or they were there in the first asbestos, that is not limited geographi- As we approach the sixth anniversary place when they shouldn’t have been, cally to below Canal Street, but wher- of 9/11, it is time to reaffirm our com- not the first responders, but residents ever the contamination went as sci- mitment of never forgetting. As was who could have gone elsewhere. But entifically determined. mentioned, we may forget too much that was one cover-up that has now un- These are what we must do. If we do here in Washington. All of those who raveled, and we have been talking these things, we are true to the sur- worked, lived and went to school in about what to do about it and how to vivors and the heroes, and we will learn Lower Manhattan, who breathed in the provide long-term medical monitoring so that, God forbid, when there is an- toxic air created by the destruction of and long-term care for it, and that is other disaster, natural or manmade, we the Towers, many of them are suffering the legislation we are talking about. will do it properly and we will not have tragically from health effects. A New But there was and is a second cover- thousands of people with preventable York City Health Department study up, and that cover-up is the fact that illnesses and shortened lives as a result shows an increased incidence of asthma the indoor spaces that were polluted of our malfeasance or carelessness. for those that worked at the pile. A De- were never properly cleaned up. A GAO So I thank Mrs. MALONEY for arrang- partment of Health and Human Serv- report, which Senator CLINTON and ing this special order. I thank her for ices study shows that illnesses that are Mrs. MALONEY and I unveiled yester- her leadership and in bringing to all a result of exposure to 9/11 toxins are day, pointed out that the EPA to this our attention the struggle and the con- definitely on the rise. As this problem day cannot guarantee that any single tinuing health problems caused by 9/11 grows, progress on coming to a solu- building, except for its own building and in helping to craft legislation to tion can be measured only in small which it cleaned up properly at 290 deal with it. steps rather than giant leaps as critical Broadway, other than that, they can- Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I needs continue to be unmet after 6 not guarantee that any single building thank the gentleman for his leadership years. In fairness, in the last 2 years or in Lower Manhattan is clean today and and for his moving statement. so, we have had some progress: $125 does not contain toxins that are slowly Mr. Speaker, the New York Daily million from the Federal Government, poisoning people on and on. News editorial board won the Pulitzer of which $75 million went for treat- The EPA never properly cleaned up, Prize for its groundbreaking series of ment, that was for the first time, nor did the City of New York, indoor editorials entitled ‘‘9/11, The Forgotten working with Mrs. MALONEY in par- spaces. Nature cleans up the outdoor Victims’’ which documented the grow- ticular; getting the creation of a health spaces. The rain washes the stuff away. ing medical fallout from the World czar by the name of Dr. John Howard The wind blows the toxins away. Noth- Trade Center attacks. Since this is to help coordinate and minister the ing cleans up indoor spaces. The EPA really about the sick heroes and hero- Federal response. Inspector General reported in 2003, it is ines of 9/11, not about legislation or 4 years ago already, that the so-called legislators, I would like to share an ex- b 1600 cleanup the EPA conducted in 2002 was cerpt from this award-winning series. As was mentioned, there was $50 mil- a phony, that it didn’t clean up any- This is from part 1 of the series enti- lion in the appropriations bill. But so thing adequately. And they said that tled, ‘‘Abandoned Heroes,’’ which was much more needs to be done, and I what had to be done, the EPA Inspector originally published in 2006. think a stronger Federal response is General, was that the EPA should in- I quote, ‘‘They cough, they wheeze, appropriate. We fought across party spect several hundred indoor spaces, their heads and faces pound with the lines. After all, this is not a Democrat apartments, residences in concentric pressure of swollen sinuses. They lose or Republican issue; this is just about circles going out from the World Trade their breath with minor exertion. They people coming together to help our Center to find out where the contami- suffer the suffocation of asthma and Federal citizens to ensure that an ade- nation is, maybe 3 blocks in one direc- diseases that attack the very tissues of quate Federal plan is put into place. tion, maybe 3 miles in another. And their lungs. They endure acid reflux, a We have a step in the right direction, wherever they found the contamina- painful indigestion that never goes and we need to keep the momentum tion, they had to go in and clean up away. They are haunted by the mental going. That is why we are working to every single building in those areas. and emotional traumas of having wit- help draft legislation that addresses That may cost money, but until that nessed horror. Many are too disabled to several key areas to help our heroes happens, the babies crawling on the rug work. And some have died.’’ who are sick today, as well as anyone 10 years from now or today will be Mr. Speaker, I now yield 5 minutes to who falls ill in the future. One of the poisoned. The people living in those my colleague and friend from the other alarming trends that we see is that ac- apartments, working in those spaces, side of the aisle, the gentleman from cording to anyone you talk to with will be poisoned, and we will reap the New York, , who has knowledge, it is beyond anecdotal. We bitter harvest 10 and 15 and 20 years worked very hard to get funding for the can all tell stories of individuals who from now with thousands of unneces- heroes of 9/11, including $25 million in we know, young firefighters who ran a sary and preventable cases of mesothe- the President’s budget. 6-minute mile in their thirties and for- lioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I ties and now have trouble walking up a Mr. Speaker, it is our job to do two thank my colleague and I thank her for flight of stairs. things. If we are going to be true to her efforts to date on being one of the The clinic that deals with the fire de- what we have said to the heroes and strongest and one of the most vocal ad- partment in the City of New York that

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:58 Sep 07, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06SE7.079 H06SEPT1 bajohnson on PRODPC61 with HOUSE H10214 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 6, 2007 sees on a regular basis firefighters has monitoring to go hand-in-hand. It is without the care they need and de- already evaluated more than 14,000 fire- one thing to give these individuals a serve. Six years is long enough. fighters. That is 14,000 firefighters. level of assurance that the treatment We now have one of our other distin- That doesn’t include the more than will be there. Another is the financial guished colleagues from New York, 55,000 people on the registry. implications. It is not unusual for a . He serves on the Appro- As we speak, there are 3,000 fire- firefighter to have copayments for pre- priations Committee. Along with fighters who are seeking mental health scription medication, not available in Chairman OBEY, he worked to secure counseling and 2,000 who go for regular generic, of $2,600 a year because of hav- $100 million in this year’s budget for check-ups for their physical well-being, ing to respond to Ground Zero after 9/ the sick workers. We thank him for his pulmonary problems, respiratory prob- 11. commitment and support. lems, the World Trade Center cough, Two thousand six hundred dollars is a Mr. Speaker, I yield to my dear asthma. The list goes on, not even to lot of money, especially to a fire- friend and colleague from the State of go into the cancer-related illnesses fighter. We should be there to help off- New York, Congressman ISRAEL. that we think may spring up in the fu- set that cost. And the monitoring is Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank ture. I say that because many illnesses important because of the fear and the my distinguished friend and partner in will not manifest themselves for an- concern, the fear and the concern that this critically important project, and I other 15 or 20 or 25 years. the more debilitating, more severe ill- thank her for her leadership on this Is it the right thing to do for Amer- nesses will manifest themselves. I talk legislation. I know that she has been so ica to turn its back on young men and of leukemia or blood illnesses or can- dedicated and so devoted to this cause. women who really gave their all on cers. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, the that day, who ran into burning build- That is why it is so essential that we President of the United States spoke to ings to try to save others, who stayed get this plan put in place and that the the Nation, and here is what he said: on the pile week in and week out? Are Federal Government and the United ‘‘The American people have faced other we really doing the right thing by say- States of America not turn its back on grave crises in their history—with ing they might not get to see their the thousands of people who need our American courage, and with American grandchildren or their kids go to help. resolution. They will do no less today.’’ school or to graduations or weddings? Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I I am not talking about President I don’t think it is the right thing to thank the gentleman. Bush saying those words on September Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that do, which is why I think this legisla- 11. Believe it or not, Mr. Speaker, I am we are now approaching the sixth anni- tion is so important. When you think talking about President Franklin Dela- versary and there are a number of com- about the number of people on the reg- no Roosevelt, who said those words on mittees here in the House that will be istry, 71,000, maybe not all of them are September 11, 1941, 60 years before the looking closely at this issue. sick, but let’s suppose half of them are. attacks on our Nation. I want to thank Chairman PALLONE We have witnessed that resolution That is larger than many small towns of the Health Subcommittee on Energy and that courage all around us since and cities and villages across the and Commerce for holding a very im- September 11. We witness it almost United States. They are actively under portant hearing on the health effects every day in our own interactions with review for health care problems. on the day of the anniversary. Many of the rescue workers, with the first re- We know the Department of Health his constituents rushed down to and Human Services revealed that 6,500 Ground Zero in the aftermath of 9/11, sponders, with those who could have responders, and I mentioned within the and they are now very sick. In fact, one fled and gone in another direction, but fire department, but in total 6,500 re- of the Centers of Excellence providing instead showed up and said that they sponders are currently being treated monitoring and treatment to sick wanted to help. for 9/11-related health problems workers is located in Congressman I know of an ironworker, Mr. Speak- er, his name is John Sferazo. John through the federally funded World PALLONE’s district. Trade Center Medical Monitoring and There will be no greater champion, Sferazo went to Ground Zero to help. Treatment Program, and another 500 to no one more important for the sick He refused to leave. Today, John 1,000 additional responders are signing workers of 9/11 than Sferazo’s voice sounds like gravel. His up each month. and Chairman DINGELL. I thank them breathing is labored. His chest hurts I know we have a wonderful gift in for their hard work. him. I know that my friend is well this country to be compassionate, to Also, Chairman TOWNS, my dear aware of John Sferazo. take care of those in need. I think our friend from Brooklyn, will be holding a John Sferazo contracted some very roles here, with my colleagues Mrs. field hearing in New York City on Mon- serious medical problems at Ground MALONEY, Mr. NADLER, so many across day in his Oversight and Government Zero. He probably knew then that he the New York delegation, I just think Reform Subcommittee on Government would have these problems. But still he it is our role to speak loudly, convinc- Management. This is the third hearing didn’t leave. He stayed there. And as a ingly, working with the AFL–CIO in this year that the chairman has held result of his courage and his commit- New York. on making sure that everyone exposed ment, his resolution and his determina- We will be getting together Saturday to the deadly toxins is monitored and tion, today his breathing is labored, it at Ground Zero to call attention once everyone who is sick is treated. His is difficult for him to speak. Our obli- again and to reaffirm our commitment dedication to helping the residents, gation to John Sferazo is to make sure never to forget. area workers and schoolchildren and we take care of him, to monitor his On a very personal level, I know too those who came from across the coun- health, to improve his quality of life, many people across Staten Island and try to help is tremendous. to take care of him, because when the Brooklyn who were willing to risk Last, our friend and true leader in time came, he was there to take care of their lives. I know many who risked the Congress, Chairman MILLER of the us. their lives and gave their lives on Sep- Education and Labor Committee, is I know of another worker, Mr. Speak- tember 11. But the untold story, and it delving into why workers were not pro- er. I met him at a Ground Zero workers will be told for years and years to tected while working at and around conference in my congressional district come, are so many young people who Ground Zero. On Wednesday of next at the State University of New York at stayed there for the recovery and res- week his full committee will hold an Farmingdale. I met him about a year cue effort and now need our help. This important hearing, the first in a series, ago. Federal legislation that we are pro- with the second focusing on why work- I was a speaker at that conference; posing and soon to be introducing will ers were not protected after Hurricane and as I was leaving, he stopped me in help them give a degree of certainty. Katrina. I thank my dear friend for his the lobby, and this is what he said. He Finally, we mentioned the new clinic ongoing focus and support for this said, Congressman, I am not sure I am alone on Staten Island that will make issue. going to be here next year. I am embar- it more convenient for firefighters. It is clear that this Congress will not rassed to say, Mr. Speaker, that I How important it is for treatment and allow the heroes of 9/11 to go longer thought he was saying that he wasn’t

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:58 Sep 07, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06SE7.081 H06SEPT1 bajohnson on PRODPC61 with HOUSE September 6, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10215 sure he could attend the conference ISRAEL’s committee. I mentioned a mo- Ground Zero were being exposed to next year. ment ago that this included another harmful toxins, with significant risks I said, Well, I am sure that you will $50 million for 9/11 health needs. In the to their health. Despite the heroic acts be able to come back. He said, No, you Senate version of the Labor-HHS bill, of our first responders, National Guard don’t understand. I’m not sure I am Senators CLINTON, SCHUMER and others reservists and even volunteers, the going to be alive next year, is what he have gotten $55 million into the Senate Federal Government has failed 6 years said. He said, What I am supposed to do bill. So when this appropriations bill later to provide comprehensive medical with my family? Who is going to take gets signed into law, we in Congress screening and medical care to those care of them? will have provided at least $100 million who were injured in service to our It may sound melodramatic, Mr. for 9/11 health needs this year alone. country at Ground Zero. We have failed Speaker, but these are real people. Can This is a very good start. Thank you to provide a comprehensive plan to you imagine doing what you thought so much, STEVE. It is a testimony to monitor and treat those who lived and was the best thing you could do, serv- the leadership not only of STEVE, but of work in the immediate areas around ing your country, serving your col- the two Senators, our entire New York Ground Zero even after we realized leagues, going to Ground Zero, sacri- delegation, our Democratic leadership, that the air they were breathing might ficing yourself, and now you are not and I would say very importantly, I be toxic. sure you are going to be around a year would say Congressman OBEY, for his Earlier this year I had graduates of from now? leadership in this battle for funding. Stuyvesant High School in New York What is our obligation to these peo- We will continue the fight to ensure City come and ask for my support in ple? Our obligation is to take care of that the heroes of 9/11 have access to providing health care for themselves them and to take care of their families. the health care that they deserve. and their classmates because of the Our obligation is to make sure that Mr. Speaker, I now yield to my dis- medical problems they had encoun- they get the health care that they tinguished colleague and friend, JOHN tered after 9/11. need. Our obligation is to let them HALL, of New York’s Nineteenth Dis- Despite assurances that their school know that we will not forget them. trict. He represents the Hudson Valley. was safe and the air was clean, when I will close by suggesting that next He has just been elected to Congress, they returned less than a month after week many of us in Congress will at- but he is fighting just as hard as all of the attacks, multiple students from tend 9/11 ceremonies. I plan after votes us who have suffered from 9/11 to make Stuyvesant have faced serious health to fly home to be at Commack High sure that the health care needs of the care issues, including Amit Fried- School in my district for a 9/11 vigil. wounded are taken care of. I thank him lander, who was diagnosed with Hodg- We are going to light the candles, and for joining me in this Special Order and kin’s disease and has been battling the we are going to talk about what a for his hard work. cancer. grievous day that was and our commit- Mr. HALL of New York. I thank the The Federal Government made a seri- ment to having a strong Nation. gentlewoman for yielding and my col- ous mistake and exposed these children But, really, we should not think leagues from New York for carrying and young adults to dangerous toxins. about these people just on 9/11. This this important legislation forward. It is well past time that we correct this Mr. Speaker, Tuesday marks the should not be an anniversary com- mistake and provide the care these sixth-year anniversary of the attacks memoration. The legislation that the children and volunteers need. on the World Trade Center and the That is why I am proud to say I will gentlewoman has introduced with my Pentagon. September 11 is truly a dark be an original cosponsor of the friends from New York will make sure day in America’s history and a per- Maloney-Nadler-Fossella 9/11 Health that this is not just an annual com- sonal tragedy for those who lost family and Compensation Act. This bill will memoration, but that every single day, and friends in the attacks. take a vital step towards providing the those workers who were there on 9/11 at care those affected at 9/11 deserve. It is b 1615 Ground Zero get the health care that my hope and belief that the New York they need and that we are securing But out of that dark day, however, delegation will unite around this bill their future. we saw the spirit of the American peo- and the House of Representatives will We had faced a crisis that day, a na- ple. Immediately following the attack, unite to act on its passage. tional crisis. They face a crisis every people around the country lined up to Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. day, a personal crisis; and it is up to us donate blood and raised money for the Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his to help and to secure their future. victims’ families. Every congressional statement and for his cosponsorship Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentle- district and every State saw people, and his leadership on this very impor- woman again for her leadership. first responders and just ordinary citi- tant issue. I know that your district Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. zens, get on planes and get in cars to also includes men and women who Speaker, I thank the gentleman for rush to Ground Zero to help work on rushed to the site to help others. raising the issue of his two constitu- the remains of the World Trade Center. Thank you so much. ents with whom he has worked. It In New York, first responders, many I am now proud to yield to the gen- brings a personal face on the tragic of whom lived in my district, rushed tleman from New York (Mr. WEINER) horror that many people confront. into the burning World Trade Center who has been a tireless advocate, along I also want to particularly commend towers to save whomever they could. with JERRY NADLER and others, for ev- him for his work on the Appropriations Immediately after the attacks, we saw eryone who has become sick from the Committee. In addition to the com- firefighters, police and volunteers line toxins of 9/11. prehensive legislation that we are up and work 24-hour shifts sorting Mr. WEINER. I thank the gentlelady jointly putting in as a delegation, Mr. through the rubble looking for sur- for this time and for her leadership. ISRAEL and others on the Appropria- vivors. This is an issue that you would think, tions Committee have taken a lead in And when it was clear that no one from around the country when people providing funding. In recent months, would come out of that rubble alive, gaze upon the memorials that will take because of his efforts and those of oth- those responders remained at the scene place on September 11, for most Ameri- ers, we have passed appropriations bills determined that no one would be left cans to realize how many people who to make sure that federally financed behind in the rubble. responded that day are not being cared 9/11 health clinics, including those run Whenever a body was removed, the for, they would be stunned and sur- by Mount Sinai and the New York City stirring sight of everyone coming to a prised. Fire Department, do not have to shut stop and honoring and showing their We have a great many ideological de- their doors because of lack of funding. respect to the flag-covered body as it bates that go on in this Chamber. We We included $50 million for 9/11 was removed is an image that will stay have a great many arguments about health clinics in the recent war supple- with all of us as we move forward philosophy and what government mental spending measure and the through our history. should or should not do. House-passed Labor-HHS appropria- Slowly we came to realize that those It should be the source of no conten- tions bill. This was done by Mr. magnificent people who worked at tion, it should be the source of no real

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:58 Sep 07, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06SE7.082 H06SEPT1 bajohnson on PRODPC61 with HOUSE H10216 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 6, 2007 debate, that people who rushed to help asked to do. Sometimes they did much services for those whose physical well- their fellow citizens on that day, more than they were asked to do. being was adversely and irreparably whether they be at Ground Zero or the I firmly believe that many of those impacted by the horrific attack on the fields of Pennsylvania, whether they be who are dying today, even if they knew World Trade Center. at the Pentagon, those people should that if they did it again they would die, As was stated by the gentlelady from be honored, of course, but they also they would still do it. That was the New York, I was elected to the New should be cared for. kind of sense, that was the kind of pa- York City Council the year our dear And yet years later, day by day, vic- thos that existed that day. People were city was attacked. I became Chair of tims of September 11 are dying. It is so eager to do whatever they could, the Committee on Fire and Criminal easy for us to remember, those of us they were willing to make sacrifices. Justice Services, as well as a member from New York, about how that day But the question becomes: Should we of the Health Committee where we ex- was such a heart-wrenching day and let them pay that price? Should we let amined year after year what the im- how it was also uplifting to see how them, day by day, as we just saw yes- pact of the aftermath, the work that many Americans, like the gentlelady terday, two more police officers died our first responders, the residents of said earlier, people drove from miles from 9/11-related diseases, should we let the area were feeling as a result of hav- around. The West Side Highway was it happen? And the answer is ‘‘no.’’ ing been misguided, misled by our own largely closed, and parked on the sides I want to end the way I began, by of- Federal Government through the lead- of the roads were license plates from fering my congratulations and thanks ership, or lack of leadership some all around the country of people who to the gentlelady from New York. would say, of the administration said I am going to go and try to help. This is a difficult issue, because as through the Environmental Protection What that help consisted of in the much as people would like to say that Agency which said to New Yorkers that weeks after September 11 was standing they are doing everything to honor the air we were breathing was okay on a pile of rubble with buckets and those victims of September 11, we and that we would be fine, only to find paper masks and people lifting large know in this Chamber that there are out that today many are diseased. pieces of stone and the rubble trying some people who are steadfastly push- I also watched as a very close friend, desperately to find anyone who could ing back every single day. And Mr. a very best friend and companion of be saved. NADLER and the gentlewoman from mine, rushed out on September 11 to If we fast-forward to today, you real- New York, and many members of the the pile, a member of Local 79, who ize many of those people are dying. New York delegation, but none more heard the call. And as I speak with him They are dying difficult deaths. It has than the two of them, have fought each and every day, I am reminded been argued by some that we don’t every day to keep this on the front that he is one of the lucky ones. But know exactly what the cause of those burner. every now and then when he coughs, I deaths are. Well, that is not true. A lot Every year now on September 11, we wonder could this be the advent of a se- of the monitoring has been done. A lot are going to cast our memory time im- rious health crisis that was precip- of the studies that have been done by memorial back to September 11, 2001. itated by his heroism on that day. medical experts in New York City and Let this be the last year we have to I cannot fathom why on the advent of the hospitals in the area, we know with mark this day by pointing out the the 6th anniversary of this most tragic some certitude what happened, and the shoddy treatment of those who rushed event in our history this administra- things we are finding in the lungs of to Ground Zero to volunteer. tion has not seen fit to do right by its those that are dying is very clear that I know that the gentlelady has com- most courageous citizenry. This is a it came from that horrific day. municated this to Speaker PELOSI and problem that not only affects many We also have heard from some who she has been very supportive of this. thousands of people throughout the say we don’t know how expensive this Let’s hope we can find the type of bi- New York region, but also countless could be. It could be untold millions partisan consensus that is truly re- thousands throughout the country who and millions of dollars. Well, the first flected in this country in paying honor bravely came to New York City and thing is to try to get some sense of re- to the memory of those that were lost helped my hometown in our time of sponsibility, and I believe it is largely and paying honor to the sacrifice of need. a Federal responsibility, and I think those still with us. Immediately following the attack that debate, frankly, belittles the Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I and imminent collapse of the World strength of the Federal Government thank the gentleman very much for his Trade Center, first responders, con- and the idea that this was an attack on leadership not only on this bill but on struction workers and volunteers from our Federal Government. many others that help the 9/11 sur- across every economic sector and walk But we do have some sense of what vivors. He has been a leader on the Ju- of life converged upon what we know as the costs are going to be. Now we need diciary Committee on the 9/11 immi- Ground Zero to perform search and res- to start to say one final thing. We gration bill which will be on the floor cue missions. know what the cost is to some degree. on 9/11 and hopefully will pass. From the outset, these heroic indi- We know what the cause is with near It is now my pleasure to yield to the viduals went in without a second certitude. We are going to accept the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. thought about their own personal well- responsibility to take care of these CLARKE). YVETTE CLARKE was elected being. They just wanted to save anyone people. It seems to me intuitive, and to the New York City Council the year who might have been buried alive and/ yet here we are 6 years later still hav- of 9/11 where she served as the Chair of or to help recover the bodies of those ing this discussion. And I think, as I the Women’s Committee and held who had perished, heroes and heroines, said earlier, we can have large discus- many important positions. She now without whose efforts New York City sions about how you provide health represents the 11th Congressional Dis- and our Nation never could have recov- care in this country, and I am willing trict representing central Brooklyn. ered as quickly as it did. to engage in that. We can have discus- Thank you for being here today and for Later, many of these same workers sions about how we should make our your statement. went through the lengthy process of country safer so we don’t have a Sep- Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I want to cleaning up the demolished site. At the tember 11 again. We should have those start by thanking the gentlelady from time, the EPA declared the air to be types of discussions. New York for her relentless efforts on safe to breathe, a statement we now But as long as we can all embrace the behalf of the victims, heroes and hero- know to have been false. Because of idea this is the responsibility of gov- ines of the World Trade Center attack their efforts in helping our country to ernment to take care of these people and aftermath. I am joining my col- recover, these men and women ingested because they did not run to that pile leagues on the floor in pursuit of jus- vast amounts of toxic dust and harmful waving their Blue Cross/Blue Shield tice for the second-generation victims chemicals. The result is a plague of de- card or waving their Medicare card or of the wicked attack of our Nation in bilitating and deadly diseases, some of waving their union membership, they New York City on September 11 and to which are rarely seen in nature. Only just showed up and did what they were demand basic health care support and now, 6 years later, are many of these

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:58 Sep 07, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06SE7.083 H06SEPT1 bajohnson on PRODPC61 with HOUSE September 6, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10217 diseases and complications showing I wholeheartedly support the Those patriots who laid the foundation themselves. In fact, many of the people Maloney-Nadler-Fossella bill as a co- for our country wrote into the Con- who spent time near the site may not sponsor, and I look forward to joining stitution a provision they firmly be- show any problems until several years my colleagues and the AFL–CIO this lieved as a prerequisite to progress and further down the line. Even the best weekend at the World Trade Center freedom. experts have no clue just how many of site as we rally in support of fulfilling Article I, section 8 of the Constitu- these individuals will actually fall ill victims’ long-term health care needs. tion states in part that, quote, Con- of long-term complications from the I thank the gentlewoman from New gress shall have the power to promote exposure. York for her extraordinary leadership the progress of science and useful arts Of course we cannot change the past with regards to this matter, and I look by securing for limited times to au- so there is nothing anyone can do forward to pursuing what is right and thors and inventors the exclusive right about exposure that already took what is just on behalf of our fellow New to their respective writings and discov- place. All we can do now is make sure Yorkers, fellow Americans and their eries, end of quote. that these victims receive the medical families. Our Founding Fathers obviously held treatment they deserve. Bureaucratic Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I the right of owning one’s ideas, cre- red tape and legal challenges have left thank the gentlewoman for her really ations and inventions as equal to the these second generation victims over- very eloquent and moving statement, rights of speech, religion and assembly. whelmed by deteriorating health as and in closing, we must not forget the In fact, in the body of the Constitution, well as a lack of meaningful financial firefighters, police officers, EMTs and the word ‘‘right’’ is only used in ref- support from a grateful Nation. Many other first responders who bravely erence to patents and copyrights. The are going bankrupt under the weight of rushed down to the save the lives even Bill of Rights was added later. escalating health costs and the loss of as everyone else was running in the In short, we have had since our coun- income to their homes and families. other direction, as my colleague so elo- try’s founding the strongest patent And what about the families? quently stated. protection in the world, and that is Furthermore, there has been no as- We must not forget the rescue, recov- why in the history of mankind there sistance offered to the many non- ery and cleanup workers who stayed on has never been a more innovative and responders who worked on the scene for months at Ground Zero in service creative people. It has been no accident and the area residents who breathed to our country. that Americans have been the world’s the tainted air that entered their And we must not forget the residents, great inventors, scientists, and tech- homes. These people are also victims of area workers and school children who nologists. Black Americans, in par- the attacks, and require support for lived, worked and studied through ticular, have excelled in the creation of health problems that are only now deadly toxins and have now become new technologies. This was no acci- manifesting. sick. dent. It was a result of the protections This is why I am compelled to add Once again, I stand on the floor of that we put into our law to secure for my name and wholehearted support be- Congress to pledge that I will not stop all people the right of ownership for hind the Maloney-Nadler-Fossella 9/11 fighting until everyone exposed to the their inventions and their creations. Health Compensation Act. This com- deadly toxins is monitored and every- Americans were the inventors of prehensive bill establishes programs to one who is sick gets the treatment technology that produced more wealth, monitor and treat everyone exposed to they deserve. with less labor, and thus elevated the the dangerous toxins found at Ground f standard of living of all people which, Zero. in turn, opened the doors of oppor- GENERAL LEAVE Whether you are a police officer or tunity for all people. firefighter, construction worker, area Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Let us understand that it was not resident, government employee or any- Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that raw muscle, nor was it the hard work one else who spent significant time at my colleagues have 5 days to revise and of our people that built this country. the scene, you are entitled to treat- extend their remarks on the subject of There are people who work hard all ment for any disease that doctors find my Special Order. over the world. They work hard and is linked to your work immediately The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. they use their muscles and they strug- after the attacks. YARMUTH). Is there objection to the re- gle; yet, they live in abject poverty. So Some of my colleagues from outside quest of the gentlewoman from New it’s not just the use of one’s physical the New York region may wonder why York? strength that will change the world they should support such a bill. They There was no objection. and make it a better place. It was not say it does nothing for their own f our vast territory and our natural re- sources that gave us a standard of liv- States or districts, so why bother vot- PATENT REFORM ACT ing for it. ing of which we are so proud. No, it was The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under not these things. It was our ingenuity, b 1630 the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- our intelligence and, yes, the legal sys- I feel the reasons could not be clear- uary 18, 2007, the gentleman from Cali- tem that was established to protect in- er. The diseases being developed by vic- fornia (Mr. ROHRABACHER) is recognized genuity and creativity that brought us tims of Ground Zero are horrid. Al- for 60 minutes. the joys of freedom and the benefits of ready well over 100 deaths have been Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, freedom. partially attributed to toxins from the tomorrow is a critical day for America. We treated intellectual property site. Not long ago, a 34-year-old detec- Tomorrow, the House will consider leg- rights, the creation of new tech- tive collapsed and died while playing islation that will dramatically dimin- nologies, as we treated property, per- with his young daughter due to com- ish a constitutionally protected right sonal and other political rights, and plications from exposure. There are that has served this Nation well. We that is what America has been all victims requiring double lung trans- are talking about fundamentally alter- about. Every person’s rights were to be plants because of damage caused from ing the laws governing the ownership respected and protected; and as I have dust and chemicals. Others develop of technology in our country. Amer- just demonstrated, the idea of the right rare cancers ica’s patent system is on the line. to own one’s creation was fundamental These people are heroes to the Na- In short, if H.R. 1908, the bill in ques- to this concept of the American Dream tion. They went in and helped resusci- tion, passes, there will be a tremendous that was laid in the constitutional tate not just a city but an entire coun- negative, long-term consequence not foundation of our country by our try that had been shocked, frozen, just for America’s inventors but for our Founding Fathers. traumatized and unsure of how to country as a whole. Today, we face a great historic chal- react. It should be a matter of national It is American technology that has lenge, and this challenge comes exactly honor to help these victims who have made all the difference in our country’s at the time when our country faces rushed in where we all rushed out. security and our people’s way of life. economic threats from abroad as never

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