The Disaster Area Health and Environmental Monitoring Act of 2005 (HR 3850) would create a standard for health monitoring programs following national disasters when the President determines a monitoring program is needed. This monitoring program would be set up to screen the health of affected individuals.

Congresswoman Maloney said, “During a disaster our first responders heroically rush to the disaster area with little regard for their personal safety in hopes of saving others. We owe it to them to at least monitor their health when it has been put at risk. There is no better example of this need than what has happened in the aftermath of 9/11. Today, more than 4 years after 9/11, there are literally thousands of individuals who are still sick as a direct result of their work in and around Ground Zero. Included in the sick are police officers, firefighters, volunteers, residents, and area workers. Despite a clear need, there is still no one in the federal government in charge of caring for these individuals, there is no coordination among programs established to screen these illnesses and there is no federal program that provides anyone with any treatment. We can and must do better for those who risk their lives to save others.”

The coordinated monitoring programs that today’s legislation would establish would provide valuable information to affected responders while providing federal assurance that their health care after disaster response is of significant national interest. The program involves informing and protecting first responders against possible health impacts, monitoring them over the short and long term, providing medical referrals, and ensuring that any information is used to prevent or protect against future incidents.

Members of Congress Maloney and Shays introduced similar legislation in the last Congress (HR 5329), but regrettably the House leadership did not bring the bill up for a vote despite the fact it had unanimously passed the Senate. The health response to Hurricane Katrina’s first responders would likely have been better prepared had this legislation advanced then.

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