2024 Budget Shortfall Explained
After years of efforts by 9/11 responders and survivors to get Washington to recognize the health impacts of the toxins at Ground Zero that were affecting thousands, the World Trade Center Health Program was finally created by Congress in 2010 and was reauthorized in 2015, to remain open until 2090.
However, because of increasing medical costs and increasing numbers of ill responders and survivors coming forward the funding formula for the World Trade Center Health Program will not provide enough funds to cover all the care that is needed for those still suffering the physical and mental impact of 9/11. This includes the responders and survivors who will be newly diagnosed with 9/11-associated cancers caused by their toxic exposures in the coming years.
Unless action is taken to deal with the impending budget shortfall in 2024, the World Trade Center Health Program will be facing service cuts to 9/11 responders and survivors unless Congress acts and provides the needed funding.
For example, if no action was taken it is likely that the program would have to start limiting new responders and survivors who may be stricken with 9/11 cancers from enrolling in the program starting in October of 2027, with cuts in services to existing members in the program in the years after that.
There have been efforts in Congress to resolve this issue and get the program the funding it needs.
First, an additional billion dollars of funding was provided in the 2022 Omnibus spending bill, through the efforts of Senators Gillibrand and Schumer.
And again, in July of 2023, Senators Gillibrand, Schumer were joined by Senator Mike Braun of (R-IN) in an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that provided an additional $444 million in funding for the program and corrected the problem that some Pentagon and Shanksville responders, including those that were active-duty Military could not join the Health Program.
While these efforts did postpone the date that service cuts would go into effect by several years, Congress will still need to provide additional funds to stop the cuts to services and ensure that the World Trade Center Health Program is fully funded and able to provide its care to injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors.
9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024
To fix the projected funding shortfall Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Charles Schumer (D-NY), Robert Casey (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mike Braun (R-IN), along with Members of Congress Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Dan Goldman (D-NY) and other members, introduced new bi-partisan legislation, the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024 HR. 9101/S. 4724 in July of 2024.
This legislation would:
- Provide funding to prevent cuts in services and deal with the program’s projected budget deficit over the next ten years.
- Fix the funding formula after FY2034 to ensure adequate future funding for the life of program until it expires in 2090.
- Increase funding for research and data collection on 9/11 conditions.
- Make certain technical corrections to the current statute.
- Provide for its cost to be fully paid for.
This effort was on the verge of succeeding in December 2024 when the end of the year Omnibus Legislation for the Continuing Resolution, HR. 10445, contained a provision to deal with the impending budget deficit in the program.
That agreed on bill failed to be passed; instead a version of the continuing resolution was passed without this provision and many other agreed to provisions leaving the World Trade Center Health Program funding issue still unresolved at the end of 2024.
Bill Text
9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act
Bill Summary
Summary of 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024
Cosponsors of 2024 Legislation
List of Senate Sponsors S. 4724
List of House Sponsors HR. 9101
Dear Colleague
Garbarino, Nadler, D ’Esposito, Goldman Dear Colleague 911 Funding Correction Act July 22, 2024
Memo in Support
Memo in Support July 24, 2024
HR. 10445 Appropriations Legislation containing Section 411 on page 649
News Articles
December 26, 2024 — Newsday — Clock ticking on 9/11 health program
It’s another disappointment, another tragedy for heroes who are now seriously ill, or at risk of becoming sick from breathing in the toxic fumes after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
December 23, 2024 — New York Times — Money for 9/11 Health Care Was Dropped from Year-End Spending Bill
New York lawmakers had unanimously championed the health funding. Mr. Musk then demanded that Republicans renounce that measure and threatened on social media to “vote out” any member who voted for it.
December 22, 2024 — Fox 5 New York — Fire unions demand 9/11 Health Act funding
More than 23 years after the September 11 attacks, members of the FDNY are still fighting to fund healthcare for illnesses acquired during the response to the tragedy.
December 22, 2024 — NY Daily News — NYC firefighter unions blast House decision to strip funding for 9/11 health care program
The city’s firefighter unions slammed a decision by lawmakers to strip vital health care funds for 9/11 first responders from the federal budget after Elon Musk and Donald Trump nuked a spending plan.
December 22, 2024 — Spectrum News NY1 — FDNY members frustrated after health funding left out of spending bill
Members of the firefighter’s union had expected it to pass just days ago.
December 22, 2024 — NY Daily News — WTC ailing ignored again: Congress fails the Ground Zero sick
The fault lies with Elon Musk, who, in his rash meddling, blew up an agreed bipartisan plan to provide permanent comprehensive medical care to the sickened heroes and victims of 9/11.
December 21, 2024 — New York Post — Fire unions livid as funding for 9/11 health fund excluded from federal budget, funds in jeopardy
Budget negotiations in Congress have resulted in failure to fund the WTC Healthcare program — which provides financial aid to 125,000 people who became ill years after coming into contact with toxins.
December 20, 2024 — Politico — How MAGA stopped 9/11 health care funding
Securing health care for 9/11 first responders was a top priority for outgoing Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito — and it looked like it was going to be a massive win. Then it all fell apart.
December 20, 2024 — Newsday — Long Island delegation laments lack of 9/11 health plan fix
Long Island House members expressed disappointment that the bill ultimately omitted a hard-fought provision that would have guaranteed funding for the World Trade Center Health Program.
December 20, 2024 — NY Daily News — Funding for 9/11 health care program removed from House spending plan to avoid government shutdown
As House members scrambled to pass a stopgap spending plan Friday, lawmakers removed legislation that would have fully funded the World Trade Center Health Program through 2040.
December 20, 2024 — Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act — Statement from Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act on the Failure of the Continuing Resolution that Contained Additional Funding for the World Trade Center Health Program
Sick and injured responders should not have walk the halls of Congress hat in hand to receive what they need and was promised to them by the federal government.
December 20, 2024 — NY Daily News — Elon Musk’s shutdown: The world’s richest man’s meddling wrecks the Congress
The bill also had money to make solvent the World Trade Center Health Program. Without the funding, survivors and responders suffering from cancer and other ailments would see their care rationed.