OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking Congress to fix an impending funding crisis that threatens the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), a lifeline for more than 135,000 first responders, survivors and families impacted by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
In a letter to congressional leadership, Drummond and a coalition of 38 other state and territory attorneys general called for urgent legislative action to ensure the long-term financial stability of the program, which is projected to face devastating funding shortfalls as early as next year.
“This health program impacts survivors and first responders in Oklahoma and across the United States whose courage and selflessness represent the very best of our nation,” Drummond said. “We must ensure we fulfill our promise to these heroes to provide medical care for 9/11-related illnesses.”
Established by Congress under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, WTCHP provides free medical care, monitoring and treatment to more than 135,000 Americans living with 9/11-related health conditions. Patients served by WTCHP include survivors, first responders and people who lived or worked near the crash sites, as well as those who participated in rescue, recovery and cleanup efforts.
In the letter, the coalition writes that WTCHP has been an essential resource for 15 years for the more than 135,000 Americans exposed to toxic dust and debris following the collapse of the Twin Towers. The attorneys general note that patients include firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, construction workers, volunteers and community members who were present in the aftermath – many of whom now suffer from chronic respiratory illnesses, cancers, mental health conditions and other serious illnesses directly linked to their exposure.
The attorneys general argue that despite being reauthorized in 2015 and 2019 with overwhelming bipartisan support, the program now faces a severe funding shortfall that could result in the denial of care to thousands of current and future enrollees. The program is authorized to run until 2090, but the attorneys general contend that the far-off date is essentially meaningless if the program is not funded during that period.
In the letter, Drummond and the coalition argue that WTCHP funding gap is driven by increasing demand for specialized care, as more survivors and first responders are diagnosed with 9/11-related illnesses each year. They note that approximately 400,000 people were exposed to the toxic air around Ground Zero, and while only a third of that group are currently enrolled in the program, many first responders and survivors are still getting sick at an alarming rate.
The attorneys general contend that increased demand for services and treatment means that current funding levels are not enough for this nation to keep its commitment to 9/11 heroes. Without additional funding, waitlists could grow, medical providers may be forced to cut back services and the program could be unable to accept new enrollees, many of whom are only now receiving diagnoses for conditions directly linked to their exposure.
Drummond and the coalition are calling on Congress to act swiftly and decisively to ensure WTCHP has the funding it needs. The attorneys general want Congress to enact legislation that will both address the WTCHP funding shortfall and provide the financial stability necessary for the program to serve current and future enrollees.
“The men and women who rushed toward danger when our nation was under attack did so without hesitation. They served selflessly to protect others, often at the cost of their lives or their long-term health and well-being,” the letter states. “Many have since lost their lives to 9/11-related illnesses. Others continue to battle complex, debilitating conditions that require ongoing treatment and support. They have kept their promise to us. We must keep ours to them.”
Read the letter.
