Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Hooray! Zadroga 9/11 bill passes



Teamsters working at Ground Zero.

 Fantastic news today! Congress passed the Zadroga bill to monitor and care for 9/11 workers who got sick from toxic dust at the World Trade Center. The bill now goes to President Obama to sign into law.

Here's the Teamsters statement about the bill:

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa commended Congress today for passing the James Zadroga 9/11 bill to monitor and treat workers who got sick because of their work at Ground Zero.


Many firefighters, police officers and construction workers developed respiratory and other illnesses from exposure to World Trade Center dust. The bill is named after James Zadroga, a New York Police Department officer who died of respiratory illness similar to those of many Ground Zero workers.

“This is the very least that the American people can do to honor the sacrifice and courage that these heroes made after the 9/11 attacks,” Hoffa said. “Teamsters are among those suffering heart and lung problems because of their tireless work at Ground Zero. Some have lost wages, and some have lost their health benefits. I am so pleased that Congress is doing the right thing for these brave patriots.”
The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act will pay for tens of thousands of people who were exposed to the air around Ground Zero.