September 11, 2020

Watson Coleman Responds to Reports Treasury Department Secretly Withheld Millions from FDNY 9/11 Health Program

Congresswoman Watson Coleman expressed outrage following a New York Daily News report that the Treasury Department withheld over $3 million dollars from the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program, a program established by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. The fund, created in 2010 and extended in 2015 and 2019, is meant to cover medical services for firefighters, EMTs and paramedics treated for 9/11 related illnesses incurred during rescue and cleanup efforts in lower Manhattan. 

“I’m furious,” said Watson Coleman. “Why we have to keep having the conversation about taking care of these heroes is baffling. The shortfall should immediately be made whole and Secretary Mnuchin should appear before Congress to explain this outrageous action. For him ‘Never Forget’ may be just a slogan, but for others it’s a promise to our heroes, the men and women who responded to the attacks and risked their own health to save their fellow Americans.”

The Daily News reported that the program was docked about half a million dollars in 2016 and 2017, $630,000 in 2018 and 2019, and almost $1.5 million through August 2020.