NYC firefighter unions furious after U.S. House dumps health care funding for 9/11 first responders

Members of the city’s firefighter unions are furious about lawmakers’ decision to cut health care money for first responders with 9/11-related illnesses from the federal budget, according to the Daily News.

The Uniformed Fire Officers Association president, James Brosi, stated on Sunday that the one thing we could rely on was that people would never forget and would always be on our side. Unfortunately, people are beginning to forget after twenty-something years. That we would have to come down here and beg Congress to act morally is unthinkable.

According to the story, Congress eliminated legislation that would have completely funded the World Trade Center Health Program through 2040 but passed a stopgap plan to fund the government on Friday after the House of Representatives failed to pass two bills.

“The bill that would provide health care and compensation for the sick and dying New York City firefighters, police officers, first responders, and civilians that were affected by what happened down there was one of the things that was left on the table,” Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro said at a press conference held across the street from the World Trade Center in front of Engine Co. 10/Ladder Co. 10.

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2011 included the creation of the World Trade Center Health Program. As more people started receiving diagnoses for ailments linked to 9/11, it was extended until 2090. According to the article, almost 130,000 survivors and first responders had signed up for the program as of September.

Making America great again was the mandate given to both returning and incoming leaders, according to Ansbro. We are aware that if you abandon the people who responded to the call on 9/11 and are now ill or dying, America will never be great again.

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