“A medical program for survivors of the September 11 attacks is said to be ‘dangerously’ close to running out of funding and advocates are sounding the alarm and asking congress to step in.
The World Trade Center Health Program is short $3B and if Congress doesn’t plug that gap, advocates say people sick with 9/11-related illnesses will be at risk of losing their treatments.
‘We have countless responders and survivors that are on lifesaving medicine. Without the funds to pay for the prescription coverage, they’ll lose that,’ said Richard Alles, a retired FDNY Deputy Chief and the Director of 9/11 Community Affairs.
The healthcare program is not just for first responders like firefighters and police officers, it covers anyone who lived or worked south of Canal Street on 9/11 and for the year that followed, many of whom do not have health insurance.”
– Linda Schmidt, “Congress Called to Fund Medical Program for 9/11 Survivors,” fox5ny.com, August 25, 2022