New York, NY - Today, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens) and Congressman Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island, Brooklyn) held a news conference to discuss the progress of the federal response to the health impacts of the 9/11 attacks. Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Assemblyman Jonathan Bing also attended the briefing this morning at Hunter College in Manhattan.

Clinton, Maloney and Fossella urged the Bush Administration to include comprehensive funding for 9/11 health treatment and monitoring in the President's budget proposal for next year. The electeds noted that although the very first federal funding for 9/11 health treatment was released in October, treatment programs currently funded may have to shut their doors as early as next summer unless they receive another round of federal support.

The elected officials also urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to finally release a concrete plan to provide medical monitoring for everyone exposed to Ground Zero toxins and treatment for anyone who is sick.

Prior to the press briefing, Clinton, Maloney, Fossella, Nadler, Bing and others met privately with Dr. John Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS and Dr. John Howard, Director of National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and Federal Coordinator of 9/11 Health Issues. The elected officials organized the meeting to allow health care professionals and representatives of 9/11 responder and lower Manhattan resident organizations to express their concerns directly to Agwunobi and Howard, who were appointed by HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt to direct the federal government's 9/11 health policy.

"Time is passing while people are getting sick and dying. This has to be one of the President's top priorities in his upcoming budget. We are all in agreement that there is a serious problem at hand but the buck now stops with the President," Senator Clinton said. "This funding is absolutely fundamental to our ongoing efforts to help those who gave so much on 9/11 and in the days after. We cannot ignore them now."

"Secretary Leavitt called the release of federal treatment funding a 'down payment,' but unless the Administration acts now, some 9/11 treatment programs are going to get foreclosure notices," said Congresswoman Maloney, "We need a commitment that the President will make 9/11 health a priority and include comprehensive funding in his next budget."

"It is essential funding is included in the President's budget to help treat individuals suffering from 9-11 illnesses," said Congressman Fossella. "We're facing the very real possibility current funding for treatment could run out in the first half of 2007, leaving our first responders without the health care they need. The federal government also needs to finalize a comprehensive plan for responding to the greater 9-11 health crisis. I want to thank Secretary Leavitt, Dr. Howard and Dr. Agwunobi for their work on this issue and today's meeting. I look forward to continue working with them on this important issue."

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