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Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law a bill that aims to notify individuals who may have been exposed to danger toxins due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and work with businesses to notify employers who worked near Ground Zero.
The legislation would apply to businesses and individuals who were located in the exposure zones in lower Manhattan and north Brooklyn between September 2001 and the end of May 2002. Employees would be eligible for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) and the World Trade Center Health Program.
Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, co-sponsored the bill. He said while 80% of first responders have enrolled in these programs, only a fraction of expired individuals have.
“It takes another step towards trying to bridge that gap in contacting affected individuals to make sure they have the information and make sure they know they have access to the support that they deserve under these programs,” he said. “This collaborative effort is going to hopefully help contact some of these individuals and get them the information about their eligibility.”
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the collapse of the twin towers filled the air with massive dust clouds, which left hundreds of city blocks covered with ash, debris and other harmful particles. An estimated 400,000 people were exposed to those toxic contaminants. Mount Sinai Hospital estimates more than 2,000 deaths have been attributed to 9/11-related illnesses.
“The bill is intended to ensure that individuals ensure that individuals that were affected by events of Sept. 11 have the information and resources necessary to address health needs,” the Democrat said. “This is support that they’re entitled to and that they deserve.”
The bill states several state departments will work together to promote awareness and notification to any past or present businesses and their employees.
Monday marked the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
