New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a press conference in the nation’s capital alongside Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senators Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, and Robert Menendez to introduce the Senate version of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Similar to the House  bill (HR 847), this legislation would provide permanent long-term federal funding to monitor and treat those affected by the World Trade Center disaster including rescue and recovery workers and residents of Lower Manhattan. In addition, the bill also would re-open the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Peter King, and Michael McMahon, who sponsored the House legislation, also appeared at the announcement.
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The Health Department recently sent the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Bulletin to more than 65,000 people who signed up to receive its flagship publication. It was also sent to Spanish and Chinese community-based organizations. Entitled "Is 9/11 affecting your health?," the bulletin offers city residents advice on how to get information, treatment and help for 9/11-related health problems, such as free diagnostic and treatment services at the WTC Centers of Excellence. It is the only printed document in the city that provides an overview of 9/11 health issues and lists all of the publicly funded services available to those affected by the disaster.

The bulletin is available in English, Spanish and Chinese. For copies, call 311. It is also available at all New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation hospitals.

The New York City Council's Civil Service & Labor Committee recently held a hearing on Introduction No. 714, which would create a presumption of line-of-duty (LODI) benefits for World Trade Center (WTC) related conditions as covered by the New York State pension law. The bill would eliminate medical judgment from a broad class of pension decisions. Representatives of the City as well as two municipal unions appeared at the hearing.
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The September 11th Worker Protection Task Force recently issued its 2009 annual report , recommending the following legislative changes:

• Tiers I and II of the NYC Teachers' Retirement System and the Board of Education Retirement System should be included in the World Trade Center Disability Law.
• The definition of "qualifying condition" under Workers' Compensation Law should be changed from the term "œlatent condition" to a non-exhaustive list of qualifying conditions based on a similar list from the NYS Retirement and Social Security Law.
• The Workers' Compensation Board should contact certain 9/11 claimants whose cases have been closed, advise them of their right to file medical evidence and reopen their claims, and suggest that they may wish to consult an attorney and/or attend publicly-funded 9/11 medical clinics.
• New York City and other self-insured employers and carriers should review their internal practices and avoid inappropriate delays of claims and appeals.
• The Workers' Compensation Committee of the Task Force should remain in place to monitor continuing developments in rescue, recovery and cleanup claims (following a yearlong review of the New York State workers' compensation system, this committee produced its own list of recommended changes which are included as Exhibit B in the report).

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Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly presided over a Police Memorial Day ceremony honoring New York City police officers who died in the line of duty.

The names of six men and four women who took part in the WTC rescue, recovery and clean up were among 11 added to those of other fallen officers whose sacrifices are commemorated on plaques in the Police Memorial Lobby inside Police Headquarters.

President Obama's proposed budget for fiscal year 2010 includes more than $70 million in new funding for the medical screening and treatment of people affected by 9/11.
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The Tribute World Trade Center (WTC) Visitor Center, opposite Ground Zero, is seeking volunteers directly affected by 9/11 to lead guided walks of the WTC site and to share their personal stories. Tribute Center volunteers have found it therapeutic to tell their stories and share their perspectives of the events with visitors to the site.
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On April 22, Congress held a hearing on the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act  (H.R. 847). The legislation would establish a permanent medical monitoring and treatment program for WTC rescue and recovery workers and the lower Manhattan community.
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President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Service Act (HR 1388) establishing September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. The President was joined by Senator Kennedy, former President Clinton, Mayor Bloomberg and other Congressional leaders who supported the bill. The new law also boosts federal support for national service programs, such as Americorps, and increases education grants for volunteers.
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For more information or to download the dataset, visit Health Data Tools.

Two House Judiciary Subcommittees held a joint hearing on the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act  (HR 847). The bill  would provide long-term federal funding for the monitoring and treatment of those exposed to the WTC disaster. It would also re-open the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Michael Cardozo, of the New York City Corporation Counsel, and other witnesses testified in support of the legislation.
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The Health Department recently released updated clinical guidelines for health care providers on how to treat adults exposed to the WTC disaster. The guidelines were written and reviewed in collaboration with external medical experts and other clinical advisors. Drafts were also shared with the WTC Health Registry's labor and community advisory committees for input.
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New York State has extended two important deadlines for workers who have 9/11-related health problems or who may develop them in the future.

Workers’ Compensation Deadline: September 11, 2010

Disability Deadline: September 11, 2010
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