Tell Congress We Will Never Forget 9/11 First Responders and Survivors
On September 16, 2015 John Feal of the Fealgood Foundation for 9/11 First Responders and dozens of New York City Firefighters headed to Washington D.C. on a bus. At the Capitol Triangle they were met and armed with the wit, wisdom and political clout of none other than Jon Stewart. A longtime supporter of the brave men and women who put their lives on the line after the 9/11 World Trade Center attack in 2001, the former Daily Show host hoped to keep the heat on Congress to extend the Zadroga Act and extend financial benefits to First Responders, funds that are expected to run out by next October. Thousands of First Responders, Police, Firefighters and those that cleaned the buildings and corresponding areas were exposed to deadly carcinogenic and toxic air for months after the attack and are sick and suffering.
FIRST RESPONDERS WERE LIED TO ABOUT THE SAFETY OF
THE AIR AT GROUND ZERO
They were told the air was safe to breathe by authorities who clearly had to know that was a boldface lie.
Former EPA Administrator, Christine Todd Whitman assured 9/11 responders and the rest of New York the air was safe to breathe. This was proven to be a lie when the EPA Inspector General's report in August 2003 found that statement to be "Unfounded", noting when Ms. Whitman made that announcement on September 18th that this statement was made without any sufficient data to support it.
Only the personnel dealing with the fires at the Pentagon had full Haz-Mat gear on as was needed considering the heavy metals and pulverized plastics and other detritus that was at the site of the Pentagon. The fire in New York and at the pile was burning for weeks. The military obviously knew how deadly the toxins from the plane were and took proper precautions and knew how to put out the fire at the Pentagon quickly and safely.
The New Yorkers were exposed to the deadly toxins because no one told the the firefighters not to put water on the Pile. No one told them that you never are supposed to put water onto a fire that contains Beryllium because the water only makes the fire burn hotter and longer. Only special dry chemicals are ever to be used to put out a Beryllium fire according to the largest U.S. makers of Beryllium, Brush Wellman Inc. Beryllium is stronger than steel and extremely light and is used in aircraft to make the seats and shell of the plane, the wiring, landing gear and more, sometimes even the luggage is Beryllium. No problem unless it burns.
Freelance Investigations has published several stories related to the toxins at the site including several specifically relating to the Beryllium burning at the site of the Pile for weeks. Beryllium is deadly toxic in vapor, dust or particle form. It causes Chronic Beryllium Disease, whose symptoms often mimic Sarcoidosis. It is NOT Sarcoidosis, according to a 2009 NIOSH, (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) Report to Congress.
The NIOSH REPORT TO CONGRESS states unequivocally that if anyone has ever been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis and they have been exposed to Beryllium in vapor dust or particle form, they DO NOT have Sarcoidosis, but they do have CBD or Chronic Beryllium Disease. Beryllium in vapor, dust or particle form attaches to the lungs and eventually burns holes that may take up to 15 to 20 years to present symptoms. Other problems besides respiratory include serious eye issues... (For more of the entire story read ...TOXIC DUST ON 9/11 LEADS TO CHRONIC BERYLLIUM DISEASE
http://freelance-documentdrivennews.blogspot.com/2011/09/toxic-dust-on-911-causes-cancer-and.html
and also...
WERE THOUSANDS OF WORLD TRADE CENTER RESPONDERS MISDIAGNOSED?
http://freelance-documentdrivennews.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html)
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION
John Feal has written the following letter and he urges all of you to copy it and forward it to your local representatives who are not on board yet in extending the Zadroga Act--- whose healthcare portion expires in just a month from now. Or go to the site link at the end of this article and sign the petition.
Rep. Peter King (Rep) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (Dem) have both been strong bipartisan supporters of Jon Feal and other First Responders and so the letters need to go to others in Congress who are not yet doing what many consider a no brainer... extending the Act, especially considering the sacrifice not only of the men and women who worked on and around the Pile, but also for their families as well. There are thousands who have lost their relatives to debilitating diseases, cancers, respiratory ailments and even those who have to deal with diseases and symptoms, some that are deadly and are not even yet being properly diagnosed. Please write your own letters or copy John's and send it to Congress TODAY...and say Thanks to these American heroes...by supporting them NOW.
Letter by:
John Feal Nesconset, NY
I went to Ground Zero shortly after the 9/11 attacks because I knew my experience as a US Army veteran and demolition supervisor would be of service to my country. I live with the memory of the lives lost that day, but also the sadness of knowing survivors are still dying from cancer, respiratory illness, and other health problems while their families struggle to put food on the table. Congress now has the choice whether or not to extend the Zadroga Act to permanently cover health expenses of our 9/11 heroes, and I ask you to please sign my petition to gain support for our fellow Americans in their time of need.
Tragically, our elected officials have refused to come together to guarantee support for these victims through an extension of the Zadroga Act (named after a police officer who died from illnesses sustained at Ground Zero). I’ve been to 144 funerals since September 11, 2001 including services for many first-responders who joined me at Ground Zero days after the attacks. I know there are thousands of more families out there who continue to face steep medical bills and struggle every day just to survive. This is no way to treat human beings who sacrificed so much that day. Americans from every state and nearly every Congressional district were affected on 9/11.
We can and must demand better action from Congress on behalf of all Americans. Tell Congress the Zadroga Act needs to be permanently extended because 9/11 survivors’ illnesses do not simply get cured if funding gets cut -- our American heroes will die without our support.
Along with Jon Stewart and other advocates for this cause, I’ll be in Washington, DC to meet with members of Congress. I want to gain as many signatures as possible to show the outpouring of love and support from all Americans who believe now is the time for solutions and problem solving. Two key programs in the Zadroga Act are set to expire soon (the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program in September 2015 and September 11th Victim Compensation Fund in October 2016). But we know extending these programs will help ease pain and suffering for thousands of victims and their families.
We once were able to get support for these 9/11 first responders and survivors, but it was not a permanent solution. I have since met people from across the nation who believe America’s elected officials have the moral responsibility to serve and protect their constituents with a permanent extension of this Act. It’s up to us to ensure the 9/11 responders and victims are supported after they sacrificed everything.
When it comes to this issue, we can all agree there are no Republicans or Democrats -- only Americans. Please encourage your member of Congress to vote for American heroes who have been suffering since 9/11. Please tell Congress to extend the Zadroga Act.
Letter to
Congress
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
Please extend the Zadroga Act indefinitely. 9/11 survivors and first-responders need our help.
https://www.change.org/p/tell-congress-we-will-never-forget-9-11-first-responders-and-survivors
The Bill has approximately 150 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and 36 co-sponsors in the Senate.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
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