Opinion: ‘Never forget’ means taking care of 9/11 responders and survivors

September 11th, 2001 left an indelible mark on our nation’s history as nearly 3,000 innocent lives were taken in the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil. The images of the Twin Towers collapsing and of New York City blanketed in smoke remain etched in our collective memory. Out of that devastation, we took a solemn pledge: “Never forget.”

Twenty-four years later, we must never forget nor turn our backs on the first responders and survivors that were exposed to the toxic dust, smoke and debris of Ground Zero by ensuring they have the medical care and support they rightfully deserve.

In the aftermath of the attacks, thousands of firefighters, police officers, construction workers and volunteers rushed to Lower Manhattan to aid in rescue and recovery efforts. Many did so without personal protective equipment and without knowledge of the long-term health consequences. Countless others such as students, teachers, office workers and residents were simply living and working in Lower Manhattan when the towers fell and the air turned poisonous.

More than two decades later, the toll of 9/11 continues to affect survivors and first responders. We all know neighbors, friends or co-workers who have been stricken with cancer, respiratory disease or other life-threatening illnesses linked to 9/11 exposure. These are New Yorkers who should have been enjoying the prime of their lives but instead are enduring hospital visits, chemotherapy and the uncertainty of chronic illness.

Congress has acted multiple times to assist those most impacted by the devastation and destruction. In 2011, President Barack Obama signed the Zadroga Act that created the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), which now provides medical monitoring and treatment to over 140,000 responders and survivors. The program has saved lives by offering screenings that catch cancers early, treatment plans tailored to 9/11-related conditions and mental health support for those coping with trauma. Yet, despite these successes, the WTCHP faces an impending funding shortfall that threatens its very existence.

Unless Congress acts, it is estimated that by October 2028 the program will be forced to close enrollment to new responders and survivors. Even those already enrolled could face cuts to their care. Imagine telling a firefighter who rushed into the burning towers that the federal government can no longer afford to support their vital cancer treatment. That is what will happen if this deficit is not addressed.

As a former community board chair who fought for the creation of the World Trade Center Health Program and as the sponsor of a New York City Council resolution calling on Congress to address this funding gap, it is alarming to see that 9/11-linked cancers have increased by a shocking 143% in the last five years. That is why Congress must pass the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act, introduced by Rep. Andrew Garbarino and U.S. Sen Kirsten Gillibrand. This bipartisan legislation fixes outdated formulas and would finally ensure that the WTCHP remains fully funded through 2090.

Across the nation and here in New York City, we gather each September 11th to remember. Whether at services at the Upper East Side’s Carl Schurz Park, at Bayside Hills’ 9/11 Memorial Garden or at the 9/11 Memorial reflecting pools in Lower Manhattan, we stand together to honor the fallen. But remembrance must also be action. Supporting this legislation is essential to honoring and remembering the victims of 9/11.

We cannot overstate the importance of this bill for survivors, for the responders who sacrificed their health to save others and for the generations of New Yorkers who lived, worked and went to school downtown after the attacks. Our duty is clear: “Never forget” means never abandoning those who were there for us when we needed them most. Congress must act now and fully fund the World Trade Center Health Program.