Federal Bill Named in Honor of 9/11 Hero

On Wednesday, February 08, 2008 the NY City Council called for the expedited passage of a stalled federal bill in Congress that will assist 9/11 victims. The bill is named after James Zadroga, a NYC detective that died as a result of inhaling toxic dust at Ground Zero.

In what can only be described as an attempt to avoid city liability, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg disputed those medical findings and went so far as to claim that Detective Zadroga was not a hero and did not die as a result of inhaling the toxic dust. Mayor Bloomberg and the NYC pathologist went against overwhelming medical evidence to make this scurrilous claim.

You can read more about that here: Bloomberg Dishonors 9/11 Hero

As shrewd a city business man Michael Bloomberg may be, he emerged as an equally savvy politician in that he supports the federal bill that will provide federal funds for 9/11 responders and victims.

The bill called The James Zadroga Act was chiefly sponsored by Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-Manhattan and Queens) and Vito Fossella (R-NY-Staten Island/ Brooklyn) the enactment will reopen the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund (VCF)

This bipartisan legislation would ensure that rescue workers, students, federal employees and area residents have, for the very first time, access to federal funding for treatment of health issues resulting from 9/11.

NY City Council Speaker Christine Quinn states the Council was set to pass a resolution calling on Congress to swiftly enact "this lifesaving piece of legislation." The bill was first introduced in September 2006

Three Provisions of the James Zadroga Act:

1. Reopens September 11 Victims Compensation Fund for individuals who became ill or did not file before the original December 22, 2003 deadline.

2. Allows for adjustment of previous awards if the Special Master of the fund determines the medical conditions of the claimant warrants an adjustment.

3. Amends eligibility rules so that responders to the 9/11 attacks who arrived later than the first 96 hours could be eligible if they experienced illness or injury from their work at the site.

Kudos to those politicians that was able to cross the aisle in this bipartisan cooperative effort to support The Zadroga Act.