Legislative Update

Passage of the 9/11 James Zadroga Health and Compensation Act

Nearly ten years have passed since the Terrorist Attacks of 2001. The events of 9/11 devastated the entire country, not just New York City and Washington, D.C.  These two cities were targeted because they symbolize America to the world. For those brave men and women who were the first-responders on that fateful day as well as through the weeks and months that followed, the attacks of 9/11 are not just history; the medical aftermath of 9/11 is felt on a daily basis.

For the membership of NAPO, the attacks on 9/11 were particularly tragic. When the World Trade Center Twin Towers were destroyed, all of the officers who responded and gave their lives were NAPO members. This group of heroes includes the members of The New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, The NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association, The NYPD Detectives’ Endowment Association, The NYPD Lieutenants Benevolent Association, The NYPD Captains Endowment Association, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Benevolent Association, The Port Authority Police Detectives Endowment Association, The Port Authority Police Sergeants Benevolent Association, and The Port Authority Police Lieutenants Benevolent Association.

NAPO wishes to publicly thank all of these groups, as well as the International Association of Firefighters and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, for their support and effort in what was truly a team effort.

When loads of debris were collected from the site, the wreckage from the attacks was sifted by hand during the search for human remains and forensic evidence. In this difficult and tragic task it was the NYPD detectives who took the lead; including Detective James Zadroga.

H.R. 847 was named after Detective Zadroga of the New York City Police Department, a NAPO member. He died of a respiratory disease that was contracted during the rescue and recovery operation at the World Trade Center. Detective Zadroga was the first NYPD officer whose death was attributed to the subsequent exposure to the debris that remained after the attacks. 

Thousands of workers and NAPO members responded from all over the country to aid New York City and the Port Authority in the search for survivors. Within the New York City Police Department alone, more officers have died since September 11^th of related health conditions than fell in the line of duty during the attacks. There are thousands more from nearly every State and Congressional District in the country who continue to suffer from 9/11 health-related issues.

On December 22, 2010, The United States Congress passed The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (H.R. 847). The Senate passed this bill by voice vote followed by a roll call vote in the House of Representatives on the amended Senate version. H.R. 847 passed in a vote of 206 in support to 60 opposed. The President is expected to sign the James Zadroga 9/11  Health and Compensation Act into Public Law.

Passage of this legislation was not possible without the much-appreciated commitment and support of President Obama and Vice President Biden.  Their ongoing efforts, mostly behind the scenes, did not go unnoticed.

NAPO's success in lobbying the House of Representatives for the passage of this legislation would not be possible without the entirety of the New York Delegation; especially Representatives Pete King, Carolyn Malone, Jerrold Nadler, and Michael McMahon.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner also played a critical role in moving H.R. 847 to the Senate.

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) made the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation bill the Senate’s top priority. They were able to work with Senate Leadership to expedite the passage of this bill. Both Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) took the time to work in a bipartisan fashion to move forward H.R. 847. NAPO thanks them for their commitment to Law Enforcement.

NAPO was instrumental in coordinating Senate efforts by working to educate the Senate staff on the importance of this legislation. Not only did NAPO lobby on behalf of this bill, we served as a facilitator of communications between both political parties to create sensible funding solutions and compromises. The International Association of Firefighters also worked hard to represent all of their membership affected by 9/11.

Most importantly, NAPO members made the difference by taking the time to call, write, or meet with their Senators regarding this bill. Among Law Enforcement agencies, NAPO took a leadership role in the efforts for passage of this bill.   

After the attacks, responders from all over America came to help. It is only fitting that the entire nation, then, comes together now to provide for the medical care and treatment of those who sacrificed their own health in an effort to protect America. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act is now history. NAPO will continue to represent and protect the men and women in Law Enforcement and all Americans in the future interest in the implementation of this bill.

Thomas J.  Nee, President

William J. Johnson, Executive Director