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Washington, D.C.-US Rep. Christopher Shays (CT-4), Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, today announced the panel will convene an oversight hearing in New York City to examine the short and long term health effects of the September 11th attack on Ground Zero workers, and steps taken by the federal and local government to diagnose and provide treatment to those affected.
The hearing will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2003, 10:00 a.m. in the Goldwurm Auditorium of the Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1425 Madison Avenue (Madison Avenue and 98th Street), 1st floor, New York, NY. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-14), a Member of the Subcommittee, invited the House Government Reform Committee panel to scrutinize the health effects on those who work or live near Ground Zero workers. Rep. Maloney said, "Thousands of workers are still sick and injured from their work at Ground Zero but the federal response to this health crisis appears to have been anemic. This hearing will help us find out what the federal government has been doing right, and where it needs to improve." Invited witnesses include Ground Zero workers, the New York Department of Health, federal representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Hazard Agency (OSHA), and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, and specialists from Mount Sinai Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and the New York Fire Department. Testimony will describe government actions after the September 11th tragedy and Ground Zero worker health effects. "As we saw with Gulf War veterans of Operation Desert Storm," Shays said, "Ground Zero veterans can suffer the delayed casualties cause by toxic exposures. Federal, State and local health systems have to be vigilant in diagnosing and treating those wounds." Committee on Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations "Assessing September 11th Health Effects: What Should Be Done?" (October 28, 2003) Witness List PANEL ONE Dr. Robin Herbert, M.D. Co-Director of the World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program Medical Co-Director of the Mount Sinai -Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine Accompanied By: Dr. Stephen Levin, M.D. Co-Director of the World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program Medical Director of the Mount Sinai -Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine Dr. Michael Weiden Medical Officer New York Fire Department Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary Division New York University Medical School
Mr. Phil McArdle Health and Safety Officer Uniformed Firefighters Association Mr. Jimmy Willis Vice Chair for Conductors Assistant to the President Transport Workers Union Mr. John Graham Health and Safety Instructor Carpenters Union Mr. David Rapp Ground Zero Worker PANEL TWO
Dr. Paul Gilman Assistant Administrator For Research and Development Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ms. Diane Porter Deputy Director National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Accompanied by: Dr. Gregory Wagner, MD Director of the Division of Respiratory Disease Studies National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Mr. John Henshaw (invited) Assistant Secretary Occupational Safety & Health Administration Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden, MD MPH New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene |
