AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging Congress to fully fund the 9/11 health program, which provides free medical care to those with related health problems, before its 24th anniversary. Gillibrand emphasizes that this is the only way to ensure responders and survivors receive necessary care. The program is struggling to meet rising costs due to increasing illnesses. Gillibrand is pushing for its inclusion in upcoming funding packages this fall, warning that enrollment will close to new applicants by October 2028 without dedicated funding. While past bipartisan efforts delivered over $1.6 billion, Gillibrand deems this “patchwork” and advocates for a permanent solution.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
On the eve of the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand demanded that Congress fully fund a program that gives free medical care to people with related health problems.
“This is the only way that we can guarantee that the 9/11 responders and survivors can get the care that they deserve,” she said.
But Gillibrand said that as more people have gotten sick, the program has struggled to keep up with the cost of care.
She said it’s time to include the program in any funding package that moves forward this fall.
“Unless that happens by October 2028, the program will be forced to close enrollment to new 9/11 responders and survivors,” she said.
She said that in the past, a bipartisan coalition has delivered more than $1.6 billion for the program, but she called that “patchwork.”
