The number of first responders who have passed away due to exposure to toxins at Ground Zero following the September 11, 2001 attacks now stands at 370. According to Fire Department of New York (FDNY) officials, 28 more individuals were added to the death toll in the past year alone. This information has been confirmed by Lt. Jim Brosi, FDNY Uniformed Fire Officers Association president, who revealed that he is pushing for support of the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024.
The act aims to provide funding for the World Trade Center Health Program through 2033. The FDNY expects to hire recruits who were born after the 2001 terrorist attacks, further emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong focus on supporting those impacted by the tragedy even years later.
Brosi highlighted the personal stories behind these statistics and the toll they take on individuals. He mentioned a firefighter who was recently buried, having been diagnosed with terminal cancer less than a year ago. Another individual lost their voice over the last few years of their life due to thyroid and esophageal cancer.
The World Trade Center Health Program is responsible for monitoring and treating more than 132,000 first responders and survivors from New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania who suffer long-term health effects related to the September 11 attacks. However, FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro claims that lawmakers often underestimate the number of people joining the program even years later.
The federal legislation currently in place will expire by 2028, and without additional funding, the program may have to start turning away new applicants as early as that year. Brosi emphasized the need for permanent funding and increased support for those affected by the tragedy and its long-term health effects.
