As the city, the nation – the world – commemorates the ninth anniversary of 9/11, Governor David Paterson has signed a bill improving the September 11 Workers’ Protection Task Force, effectively allowing the Task Force to continue to provide vital assistance to the thousands of heroes.
Included in the legislation are measures to extend the task force for another five years, from June 10 of this year to June 10, 2015, and to expand the composition of the Task Force to 20 members, including the medical director of the Mount Sinai Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
The September 11 Workers’ Protection Task Force has played a central role in identifying additional issues that have arisen from the rescue, recovery and clean-up of the former World Trade Center site.
This legislation will allow the Task Force to continue to provide support to the brave men and women of September 11, ensuring these individuals receive the most efficient medical treatment and continued support.
“Paying for medical benefits and compensating workers insured in the course of the rescue and clean-up is something our government should do,” said Senator Joseph Addabbo, a member of the Senate’s Committee on Civil Service and Pensions. “The federal government has promised to pay for some of the cost, and now New York State is stepping up to the plate for them in this difficult financial time to give our 9/11 workers an extension of the Task Force that will help with the remainder of the financial burden regarding their medical treatment and continued support."
