The Trump Administration has been quietly Pulling Money out of a Fund for New York City Firefighters and Medics suffering from 9/11 related illnesses, with nearly $4 Million channeled to the Federal Government.
The Cash had been sent to the Fund by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The Treasury Department started quietly withholding between Half a Million to nearly $1.5 Million for several years. “This was just disappearing,” FDNY World Trade Center Health Program Director, Dr. David Prezant said. “This is the most amazing thing. This was disappearing — without any notification.”
Treasury Department Spokeswoman, Rebecca Miller, Confirmed that Funds had been Redirected to Pay Down some of the City’s Medicare Debt, but stressed that a “complicated” Collection System had Obscured the Money’s Origin. “It’s wrong, it shouldn’t happen this way, and we are doing everything that we can, working with the city to try and fix this really unfortunate situation,” Miller said.
The Funds were meant to help 9/11 Emergency Responders, was No Longer Receiving All the Money Promised by Congress, in the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Zadroga was a New York City Police Officer who Died in 2006 of a Respiratory Disease stemming from being part of the Rescue and Recovery Efforts after the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers Collapsed on 9/11.
The Feds were Squabbling over Medicare Bills with a Different Agency in New York City; for some reason, they Decided to go after 9/11 Emergency Responders’ Funds. An Initial Rerouting of about $500,000 began in 2016, under the Obama Administration. Under President Trump, the Withdrawals have Accelerated.
It’s a surprising choice, especially given the High Profile Struggle of 9/11 Responders to get the Health Bill Passed in the first place. Congressional Republicans Repeatedly Voted Down the Legislation in 2010. A Renewed push in 2015 Succeeded at the last minute, but only after Sick and Dying 9/11 Responders made Dozens of Emotional Lobbying Trips to Congress and Former “Daily Show” Host Jon Stewart Amplified the Cause.
Reaction to Story was Swift and Furious on Friday, as Politicians Acknowledged the 19th Anniversary of the Deadliest Terror Attack on U.S. Soil and Reiterated the Vow to ”Never Forget.”
Uniformed Fire Officers Association President, Jake Lemonda, called the Rerouting of the Funds “despicable” and “inexcusable.”
“I AM FUCKING PISSED!” tweeted, Fred Guttenberg, known Nationally as the Father of Jamie Gutenberg, Murdered in the 2018 Mass School Shooting in Parkland, Florida. Guttenberg’s Brother Died in 2017 of Cancer Linked to his Role as a First Responder on 9/11.
Michael Barasch, whose Law Firm Represents Thousands of 9/11 Survivors and First Responders, said Friday that More People have Now Died of 9/11-related Illnesses than the almost 3,000 who Perished that day. “It’s because of the toxic dust,” he said. “They were all exposed to these carcinogens, and now with the coronavirus, the 9/11 community in particular is so vulnerable, because if you’ve had (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or asthma, which are two of the most common of the respiratory illnesses, or if you’ve been decimated by cancer and had to have chemotherapy, your immune system is shot.” He added, “Not a day goes by without one of my clients dying. It’s so heartbreaking.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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