Dear Senators Gillibrand and Schumer,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for S. 569.
Created by Congress in 2010 and reauthorized in 2015 until 2090, the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) provides medical treatment and monitoring for over 120,000 9/11 responders and survivors. Costs for the program and increases in participation by injured 9/11 responders and survivors have increased beyond what was projected in the 2015 extension and because of those increased costs, the program now faces a projected funding shortfall. While Senate Amendment 6607, which provided $1 billion to partially close this projected shortfall, passed in the omnibus this past December, more funding is still needed to completely fix this funding gap.
Your legislation would appropriate over $2 billion in additional funding and make a number of technical corrections to the way the program is administered, putting the WTCHP on a sustainable path for the future. We have an obligation to take care of those who bravely and without hesitation put themselves in harm’s way during that fateful day, and this bill does just that.
On behalf of the more than 364,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I am proud to offer our support for this legislation. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President