Nurses Support 9/11 Rescue Workers' Fight for Healthcare Justice

Heartbreaking 9/11 Worker Health Issues Demand Change

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee announces full support for the 9/11 rescue workers struggling to get the healthcare they need in the face of illnesses and injuries associated with their service to the nation at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001.

More than 200 of these American heroes and their friends and families are traveling to Washington, D.C., for a rally Tuesday, February 26, and to call attention to their fight for justice. Some 9/11 workers must now choose between food and medicine, housing and treatments – though when they were called to serve in the wake of the terror attacks, none of these brave men and women hesitated. Now thousands are too sick to work and many have no access to healthcare or health coverage.

CNA/NNOC honored the 9/11 rescue workers who appeared in Michael Moore’s movie SiCKO with their 2007 “Courage Under Fire” awards. Two of these brave workers, Reggie Cervantes and Billy Maher, will speak at the DC rally.

What: Rally for restoration of 9/11 Healthcare funding through national legislation
Where: West Lawn of the Capitol, Washington, D.C.
When: Tuesday, February 26, 10 a.m. – noon, EST

The rally is aimed to address the following issues:

The government just cut Healthcare funding by 77 percent. A paltry $25 million was designated for fiscal year 2009, down from $108 million in 2008. This means every program in existence (including Mt. Sinai in New York City) will be operating on a severely reduced budget.
In December 2007, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Leavitt canceled plans for the World Trade Center Business Process Center. This center was designed to provide treatment for the 10,000-plus first responders who reside outside the New York metropolitan area, many of whom are seriously ill.
The 9/11 Health & Compensation Act (aka the James Zadroga bill) has still not been passed. This hugely important piece of legislation that would help all 9/11 families has been ignored within Congress up until now.

Scheduled speakers include Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-OH, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY, Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-NY, Rep. Tim Bishop, D-NY and other leaders. Advocates of several 9/11 health organizations as well as family members and first responders from September 11, 2001, will also be discussing the health issues they currently face.