Part of the legislation: Do you really think free health care for life should apply to someone who was at ground zero for four hours?
SEC. 3111. IDENTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE WTC RESPONDERS AND PROVISION OF WTC-RELATED MONITORING SERVICES.
`(a) Eligible WTC Responder Defined-
`(1) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this title, the term `eligible WTC responder' means any of the following individuals, subject to paragraph (5):
`(A) CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED RESPONDER- An individual who has been identified as eligible for medical monitoring under the current consortium arrangements (as defined in section 3108(4)).
`(B) RESPONDER WHO MEETS CURRENT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA- An individual who meets the current eligibility criteria described in paragraph (2).
`(C) RESPONDER WHO MEETS MODIFIED ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA- An individual who--
`(i) performed rescue, recovery, demolition, debris cleanup, or other related services in the New York City disaster area in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, regardless of whether such services were performed by a State or Federal employee or member of the National Guard or otherwise; and
`(ii) meets such eligibility criteria relating to exposure to airborne toxins, other hazards, or adverse conditions resulting from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center as the WTC Program Administrator, after consultation with the WTC Responders Steering Committee and the WTC Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee, determines appropriate.
The WTC Program Administrator shall not modify such eligibility criteria on or after the date that the number of certifications for eligible responders has reached 80 percent of the limit described in paragraph (5) or on or after the date that the number of certifications for eligible community members has reached 80 percent of the limit described in section 3121(a)(5).
`(2) CURRENT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA- The eligibility criteria described in this paragraph for an individual is that the individual is described in either of the following categories:
`(A) FIRE FIGHTERS AND RELATED PERSONNEL- The individual--
`(i) was a member of the Fire Department of the City of New York (whether fire or emergency personnel, active or retired) who participated at least one day in the rescue and recovery effort at any of the former World Trade Center sites (including Ground Zero, Staten Island Landfill, and the NYC Chief Medical Examiner's office) for any time during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2002; or
`(ii)(I) is a surviving immediate family member of an individual who was a member of the Fire Department of the City of New York (whether fire or emergency personnel, active or retired) and was killed at the World Trade site on September 11, 2001; and
`(II) received any treatment for a WTC-related mental health condition described in section 3112(a)(1)(B) on or before September 1, 2008.
`(B) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND WTC RESCUE, RECOVERY, AND CLEAN-UP WORKERS- The individual--
`(i) worked or volunteered on-site in rescue, recovery, debris-cleanup, or related support services in lower Manhattan (south of Canal Street), the Staten Island Landfill, or the barge loading piers, for--
`(I) at least 4 hours during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on September 14, 2001;
`(II) at least 24 hours during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on September 30, 2001; or
`(III) at least 80 hours during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2002;
`(ii)(I) was a member of the Police Department of the City of New York (whether active or retired) or a member of the Port Authority Police of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (whether active or retired) who participated on-site in rescue, recovery, debris clean-up, or related support services in lower Manhattan (south of Canal Street), including Ground Zero, the Staten Island Landfill, or the barge loading piers, for at least 4 hours during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on September 14, 2001;
`(II) participated on-site in rescue, recovery, debris clean-up, or related services at Ground Zero, the Staten Island Landfill or the barge loading piers, for at least one day during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2002;
`(III) participated on-site in rescue, recovery, debris clean-up, or related services in lower Manhattan (south of Canal St.) for at least 24 hours during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on September 30, 2001; or
`(IV) participated on-site in rescue, recovery, debris clean-up, or related services in lower Manhattan (south of Canal St.) for at least 80 hours during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2002;
`(iii) was an employee of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York involved in the examination and handling of human remains from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, or other morgue worker who performed similar post-September 11 functions for such Office staff, during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2002;
`(iv) was a worker in the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation tunnel for at least 24 hours during the period beginning on February 1, 2002, and ending on July 1, 2002; or
`(v) was a vehicle-maintenance worker who was exposed to debris from the former World Trade Center while retrieving, driving, cleaning, repairing, or maintaining vehicles contaminated by airborne toxins from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center during a duration and period described in subparagraph (A).
“Part of the legislation: Do you really think free health care for life should apply to someone who was at ground zero for four hours?”
Have you seen the reports of the density of asbestos, PCBs and other plastics related toxins that were in the air for weeks after 9/11? If you have any you have any knowledge of environmental health and safety code you would answer ABSOLUTELY to your question.
Even 1 hour of exposure to those levels would cause irreparable harm to a person. There is a reason it says 4 hours, because that is all it takes to disable or kill you if you are genetically vulnerable.