Public health officials expect the number of people diagnosed with illnesses related to the World Trade Center attack to keep growing. A New York Representative is still pushing for permanent financial aid for survivors 17 years later.
“At first they don’t’ see the symptoms but since then many have died, many more will become sick each day and are not able to work,” said New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. “It’s important that we give them their health care and compensation for what they did to save others.”
The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund expires in December 2020, but some officials fear the money will run out before then. Maloney says securing future funding is one of her priorities in welcoming new members to Congress.
“We need to educate them that this is a problem not only in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. 435 districts, 434 of them have someone, at least one, two, or more are diagnosed with problems and sicknesses that have come from 9/11.”
Maloney says a bill introduced to create a permanent 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund has been met with wide bi-partisan support.
Click below to hear the entire interview between WBGO's Ang Santos and NY Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.