39 Attorneys General Urge Congress to Fund 9/11 Health Program

A bipartisan coalition of 39 state attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and including Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, is urging Congress to secure long-term funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). This vital program, established under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, provides free medical care, monitoring, and treatment to over 135,000 first responders, survivors, and others exposed to toxic substances after the September 11 attacks. Despite bipartisan reauthorizations in 2015 and 2019, the WTCHP faces a looming funding shortfall as early as next year, threatening to deny care to many who continue to develop chronic illnesses related to 9/11 exposure. The coalition highlights that demand for specialized care is increasing annually, with only about a third of the estimated 400,000 exposed individuals currently enrolled. They emphasize the moral obligation to honor the sacrifice of these heroes by preventing catastrophic cuts and ensuring the program's financial stability through urgent congressional action. Failure to act risks burgeoning waitlists and reduced access to critical health services for those who risked their lives in the aftermath of the attacks.