Talking point: "Because of Bush administration and EPA lies after 9/11 and the continued government neglect, the health of the heroic First Responders and residents living near the World Trade Center site is suffering. The administration has the power to correct this horror, but is turning a blind eye even though cops, firefighters and WTC survivors could die."
Not only is the national media ignoring this story, but the NYC media has barely touched it. Don't the people that the world saw as heroes three years ago at least deserve the decency of the EPA telling the truth about the toxins in the air after the attack, and a commitment from the federal government to treat their related illnesses for life? Right now, the government is providing limited testing, no treatment and they're still not coming forth with the truth.
Here's a link to the Jerrold Nadler Congressional hearing statement on the matter:
Nadler statement
From his statement:
For almost three years, I have been investigating the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) response, and that of other federal agencies, to the terrorist attacks in New York City. In April 2002, I published a White Paper documenting EPA's malfeasance, and in August of 2003, the EPA Inspector General issued a report documenting that the EPA gave false assurances to the people of New York regarding the air we were breathing and that the EPA refused to take responsibility to decontaminate indoor spaces, such as apartments, offices, and schools, despite the fact that they are federally mandated to do so. Earlier this year, residents, workers and school children filed a class action lawsuit against the EPA in an effort to finally get the agency to do its job, and do it right, as well as to request medical relief....
The GAO Report under consideration today provides more disturbing evidence of the extent of the health impacts following September 11, and the gaps in medical treatment for those afflicted. According to the report, ninety percent of the firefighters and EMS workers at the WTC site had respiratory ailments. Of the 332 firefighters in the study that reported "WTC Cough", only about half have shown any improvement. The GAO Report also found that the people living and working in Lower Manhattan experienced health effects similar to first responders, and that almost 75% of respondents living near the WTC site experienced respiratory symptoms. The only assistance for these residents is the health registry, which does not provide any actual medical treatment.
The term "WTC Cough" send shivers down my spine.
Also, here's a link to the recently released GAO (Government Accountability Office) report on 9/11 health effects:
GAO report
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