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The Zadroga Act timeline is long and complicated
9/11 timeline
2001
On September 11, 2001, terrorists crash airplanes in to the World Trade Center. Tens of thousands of first responders begin a search for survivors at Ground Zero, exposing themselves to toxic debris without respirators.
On September 18, 2001, EPA head Christine Todd Whitman informs local residents that the air is safe to breathe and the water is safe to drink. Mayor Rudy Giuliani claims that it is safe for New Yorkers to return to their normal routines.
On September 22, 2001, President Bush signs the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 into law as part of the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act. The Act authorizes compensation to any individual (or deceased’s representative) who was injured or killed as a result of the terrorist attack. The Act creates a Special Master.
On November 26, 2001, the Attorney General appoints Kenneth R. Feinberg as Special Master.
On December 21, 2001, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is opened for claims.
2002
On March 13, 2002, the Department of Justice issues its final rule and associated commentary, clarifying the rules and the role of the Special Master.
2006
On January 5, 2006, James Zadroga dies of a respiratory illness. He is the first New York Police Department (NYPD) officer whose death could be attributed to exposure to toxic chemicals at Ground Zero, where he spent over 450 hours assisting.
EPA Chemist Cate Jenkins says the EPA knew the air was toxic.
In August 2006, New York Governor George Pataki signs a law requiring New York City to pay increased death benefits to relatives of rescue and cleanup workers.
In September 2006, New York representatives Jerrold Nadler and Anthony Weiner filed a request with the attorney general to investigate Whitman. The appeals court ultimately finds that she cannot be held liable for her words.
On September 7, 2006, Representative Carolyn Maloney introduces the James Zadroga Act of 2006 to Congress. The bill is referred to a committee.
2007
Senator Robert Menendez introduces the James Zadroga Act of 2007 to Congress. It is referred to a committee. The Zadroga Act timeline begins.
2009
On February 4, 2009, Representative Maloney introduces the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 to Congress. The Bill is passed in the House on September 29, 2009.
On December 9, 2009, Senate Republicans vote against the Bill, citing funding and mismanagement of existing 9/11 programs.
2010
On July 29, 2010, the House fails to get the two-thirds vote necessary for a Suspension of Rules passage.
On August 4, 2010, Jon Stewart opens his show with a segment on the Bill, highlighting speeches from its opponents.
On September 29, 2010, the House approves the Bill using normal House procedure, by a vote of 268 to 160.
On December 10, 2010, Senate Republicans block a motion for cloture, which requires 60 votes to break a filibuster against the bill. The vote is 57-42.
Jon Stewart opens his December 13, 2010 episode with another segment, highlighting the Senators who voted against it. He devotes his entire December 16, 2010 episode to the issue, featuring first responders.
On December 22, 2010, the Senate vote to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. Title I amends the Public Health Service Act, establishing the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) for eligible firefighters and related personnel, law enforcement officers, and rescue, recovery, and cleanup workers, as well as eligible who worked, resided, or attended school, childcare, or adult daycare in the New York City Disaster Area. The House agrees to changes made in the Senate, passing Bill 206-60.
2011
On January 2, 2011, President Obama signs the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 into law. The Act creates two programs: the WTC Health Program (WTCHP) provides medical care for to first responders and survivors; the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) provides compensation for physical injury, medical care reimbursement and wrongful death claims to victims and victims’ families.
On July 1, 2011, the Act formally takes effect. The Zadroga Act timeline continues, with deadlines.
2015
On April 14th 2015, Bills to renew the programs are announced in Congress. The New York City Council, led by Margaret Chin, calls on Congress to take action.
On December 18, 2015, Congress approves the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act, extending existing benefits for first responders to 2090. President Obama signs the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, which includes the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act. The new Bill extends the Victim Compensation Fund for another five years, to 2020. It also caps some damages and prioritizes claims.
2018
In August 2018, VCF projections analysis suggested the possibility that available funding of $7.375 billion might run out prior to the program’s designated end on December 18, 2020.
In October 2018, the VCF filed a Notice of Inquiry, concluding that the Fund could not pay all current and projected claims at the current levels within the budget. As a result, the Fund would be required to cut pending claims of injured responders and survivors by 50% and future claims by 70%.
2019
On February 15, 2019, The Special Master released the Seventh Annual Status Report and the Third Annual Reassessment of Policies and Procedures. In a Message from the Special Master, Rupa Bhattacharyya notes the dramatic increase in claims filed.
Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Gardner and Charles E. Schumer, and U.S. Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney, Jerrold Nadler and Peter T. King introduced the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act, HR.1327/S.546.
On July 12, 2019 the legislation was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 403 to 12 and on July 23, 2019 it passed the Senate by a vote of 97 to 2.
On July 19, 2019, President Trump signs the Zadroga Reauthorization Act, extending the claim filing deadline to 2090. The Zadroga Act timeline extends into the future.
On September 27, 2019, President Trump signs the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020 and Health Extenders Act of 2019, raising the number of responders and survivors eligible for enrollment in the WTC Health Program.
2021
On July 28, 2021, Representatives Maloney, Nadler and Garbarino propose the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act, to address the program’s funding shortfall. In August 2021, Senator Gillibrand introduced the Act in the Senate.
On September 27, 2021, Representatives Maloney, Nadler and Pallone add their Bill which would fund the WTC Health Program to President Biden’s Build Back Better Bill. The Bill passes the House but not the Senate.
2022
In November 2022, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand championed the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act, to provide $3.6 billion of supplemental funds, including $46 million to study the impact of 9/11 on almost 35,000 people who were children at the time. In December 2022, Congressional leaders dropped the $3.6 billion in proposed World Trade Center Health Program funding from a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill. A total of $1 billion in funding for the WTCHP was included in the broader spending bill.
2023
On January 17, 2023, all types of uterine cancer, including endometrial cancer, were added to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions. The long effort to include uterine cancer among covered conditions began when Iris Udasin, medical director of the Clinical Center at the Environmental and Occupational Health Science Institute at Rutgers, noticed cases among first responders she was treating. Doctor Udasin took her findings to Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who led the bill through an expedited decision in Congress.
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