At City Hall, Pelosi Backs 9/11 Medical Fund
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said today that she would back legislation to provide health coverage and financial compensation to responders who get sick from exposure to toxins at ground zero.
(Heui Chul Kim)
The House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, tours ground zero with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Governor Spitzer.
Speaking this morning at a new conference alongside Mayor Bloomberg in City Hall, Ms. Pelosi said she would support the re-opening of the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund to pay for the medical expenses of those who have suffered serious illnesses from breathing in the dust at ground zero. She added though that said she would review all of the competing proposals related to World Trade Center illnesses.
Legislation on the matter is being introduced tomorrow on the sixth anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks.
Ms. Pelosi said the federal government has failed to care for injured first responders. "We owe you more than you have received," she said.
The city estimates that medical treatment would cost $393 million a year, both for those who are already sick and for those who might become sick.
After her appearance at City Hall, Ms. Pelosi headed to ground zero to tour the site and meet with Governor Spitzer.
