Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor a former volunteer firefighter who was at Ground Zero on 9/11, Michael Weinstock. He was an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn's special victim's bureau and a volunteer firefighter and EMT. On the morning of 9/11, Michael witnessed the black smoke billowing out of the World Trade Center. Without thought, he voluntarily rode with first responders to help in any way he could. Michael had been unloading medical equipment out of an ambulance when the South Tower crumbled and nearly crushed Michael to death. Today, Michael suffers from a painful and incurable disease: neuropathy. Michael has been a strong advocate for neuropathy to be covered by the World Trade Center Health Program. Neuropathy is a medical condition that results in damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Those who suffer from neuropathy experience weakness and numbness which typically occurs in the hands or feet. This can be incredibly painful and debilitating, and many are unable to live normal lives. This is also known as the suicide disease due to limited effective treatments and the fact that there is no cure. Studies from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health have linked neuropathy with the 9/11 dust. The data from the 2019 study found that nearly 10,000 firefighters and emergency medical workers were exposed to toxins at the World Trade Center.…”