Kirsten Gillibrand

I am very pleased to be here today to support S. 1334, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act of 2009.

To do this, it will build on the existing monitoring and treatment programs by delivering expert medical care for these unique exposures at Centers of Excellence.

Thank you, Chairman Harkin, for holding this hearing. This is so important to the first responders, to the community survivors, and to everyone in New York and throughout the country.

I would like to thank this committee and the members of the Senate who have shown their continuing and extraordinary support for our patients and our program.

It is our moral obligation.

I express my gratitude to Senators Gillibrand and Schumer of my home State of New York.

I believe that the bill, Senate 1334, that Senator Gillibrand and others have introduced, provides the framework for that treatment.

The horrific damage of 9/11 did not end when the buildings came down.

The horrific damage of 9/11 did not end when those buildings came down.

I hope we can all agree that we as a nation have an undeniable moral obligation to provide treatment for individuals who are sick and dying because of the terror attacks at Ground Zero.

It's about keeping faith with those directly impacted by the 9/11 attacks, and meeting their needs.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Our bill would authorize these programs into law and ensure that they have guaranteed funding.

This is a tragedy and our failure as a nation to confront it is an outrage.

We must establish efficient programs to provide for their care and treatment, and fulfill this moral obligation to them all.

My legislation would fulfill our moral obligation to the heroes who have sacrificed their lives for our country.

I want to thank Ranking Member Enzi for his hard work over these years, working with Secretary Clinton.

On 9/11, terrorists, determined to kill thousands of innocent people, showed us human nature at its very worst.

I hope this hearing will help us understand how all these pieces fit together, so we can make sure heroes get the help they need.

9/11 victims deserve better.

I commend her and our two colleagues from the House for their relentless efforts to address the needs of the heroes and the victims of that day.

But, our work is not done. We're learning that the health effects of the 9/11 disaster are far more extensive and more wide-ranging than many people initially thought.

We must make sure our commitment to this cause is for the long haul, and that the WIC 9/11 ZADROGA BILL is passed.

These people did not hesitate to help when they were needed, and stayed to show the world that they believed in our country and the future of our way of life.

The bill would help to preserve America's traditional leadership role in gas turbine innovation and bolster our exports to overseas markets.

I especially want to recognize Senator Collins's testimony on the heavy duty RD&D bill and Senator Carper for trying to help us expand the toolkit that we have available in the Federal Government to expand renewable energy and to reduce…