June
10, 2019
The
Honorable Nancy Pelosi The
Honorable Mitch McConnell
Speaker Senate
Majority Leader
H-107 S-230
The Capitol The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515 Washington,
DC 20510
The
Honorable Charles Schumer The
Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Senate Minority
Leader House
Minority Leader
S-221 H-204
The Capitol The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510 Washington,
DC 20515
Dear Speaker
Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer and Leader McCarthy,
On behalf
of Mayors, Municipal and County Leaders from across the nation, we join
together to urgently request that the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
(VCF) be fully funded and made permanent. This legislation is sponsored by a
broad cross-section of Members of Congress from across the political spectrum and
nation. As support continues to grow, we call on Congress to support the swift
passage of the bipartisan H.R.1327/S.546 – Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent
Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act.
September 11, 2001 left an indelible
mark on our nation. On that fateful
morning, 2,977 lives were
lost and thousands more were injured. Yet many more would develop illnesses
from working on the scene. The heartbreaking reality is that more people may
have died from 9/11-related injuries and diseases than were lost during the
attacks themselves. The VCF provides compensation to individuals or surviving
family members who were injured, sickened, or killed as a result of the 9/11 attacks,
or the exposure to toxins
as part of the recovery
efforts at the Site of the World Trade
Center, the Pentagon and the Shanksville crash site. On February 15, 2019, the
VCF made the announcement that a funding shortfall would result in drastic cuts
to all claims. This equates to
reductions of 50 percent for all pending claims and a staggering 70 percent for
future claims.
To be
clear, this shortfall does not only affect individuals in New York, Washington
D.C. and Pennsylvania where the attacks took place. First responders, law
enforcement personnel and volunteers poured in from across the nation to render
aid in the immediate aftermath of the most devastating attack on the U.S.
mainland. To date, over 93,000 first responders from every state and from 434
out of 435 Congressional Districts are currently enrolled in the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program. As local leaders,
we understand how critically important the VCF is for our communities because
we have witnessed our residents’ suffering firsthand.
In 2015,
Congress authorized and fully funded
the World Trade Center Health Program, providing medical monitoring and treatment
for responders and survivors with 9/11-related injuries and illnesses. Congress
also reauthorized the VCF, providing an additional $4.6 billion dollars in
compensation for these victims and their families, many of whom are suffering
or dying from respiratory diseases and cancer. Given the full scope of need and
the record number of victims applying, the funding
is quickly running
out. Almost $5 billion has already been paid, while nearly
12,000 claims remain under review. Further, any responder or survivor who
becomes ill after December 18, 2020 would be ineligible due to lack of funds.
As leaders,
we are duty-bound to provide our heroes with the support they have rightfully earned, and to respect and cherish those who became
ill after running
into harm’s way to save lives on one
of the darkest days of our nation’s history. The Never Forget the Heroes Act of
2019 affirms our responsibility as Americans to protect the victims of
9/11-related illnesses by reauthorizing the fund through 2090, and funding all current and future claims.
We urge you to reauthorize the VCF by swiftly
enacting H.R. 1327/S.
546. Those suffering
from 9/11-related illnesses cannot wait, and we hope Congress does not wait to
pass this important legislation.
Sincerely,
Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New
York City, New York Steve Adler, Mayor of Austin, Texas
Bryan K Barnett, Mayor of
Rochester Hills, Michigan David J Berger, Mayor of Lima, Ohio
Ravinder Singh Bhalla, Mayor
of Hoboken, New Jersey Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, District of Columbia
Sharon W Broome, Mayor of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Roy D Buol, Mayor of Dubuque,
Iowa
Latoya Cantrell, Mayor of
New Orleans, Louisiana Daniel Corona, Mayor of West Wendover, Nevada Pauline
Russo Cutter, Mayor of San Leandro, California Jacob R Day, Mayor of Salisbury,
Maryland
Michelle De La Isla, Mayor of Topeka, Kansas
James A Diossa, Mayor of
Central Falls, Rhode Island Denny Doyle, Mayor of Beaverton, Oregon
Mike Duggan, Mayor of
Detroit, Michigan Buddy Dyer, Mayor of Orlando, Florida
Jorge O Elorza, Mayor of
Providence, Rhode Island Greg Fischer, Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky Steven M
Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles,
California Robert Garcia, Mayor of Long Beach, California John Giles, Mayor of
Mesa, Arizona
Rex Hardin, Mayor of Pompano
Beach, Florida
Andy Linko, Mayor of
Brownstown Township, Michigan Jeff Longwell, Mayor of Wichita, Kansas
Debra March, Mayor of Henderson, Nevada
Donald Margo, Mayor of El Paso,
Texas Monica Martinez, Mayor of Perris, California Lily Mei, Mayor of Fremont,
California
Carlos Méndez, Mayor of
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico Mark W Mitchell, Mayor of Tempe, Arizona
Kenneth D Miyagishima, Mayor
of Las Cruces, New Mexico W John Moore, Mayor of Yachats, Oregon
Alan L Nagy, Mayor of Newark,
California Frank C Ortis, Mayor of Pembroke Pines, Florida
Toni Preckwinkle, Mayor of
Cook County, Illinois Mike Rawlings, Mayor of Dallas, Texas
Mary Casillas Salas, Mayor of
Chula Vista, California Hillary L Schieve, Mayor of Reno, Nevada
Jeffrey Slavin, Mayor of Somerset,
Maryland Jason B Snider, Mayor of Tigard, Oregon Levar Stoney, Mayor of
Richmond, Virginia
John Tecklenburg, Mayor of
Charleston, South Carolina Alan Webber, Mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Patrick L Wojahn, College Park, Maryland
Stephen J Acquario, Executive
Director, New York State Association of Counties Peter Baynes, Executive
Director, New York State Conference of Mayors
Steven Bellone, County
Executive, Suffolk County, New York
Ad Berwanger, Chairman, Wyoming County, New York Philip R Church,
Administrator, Oswego County, New York Laura Curran, Nassau County Executive,
New York
Ed Day, County Executive, Rockland
County, New York Jason T Garnar, County Executive, Broome County, New York
C William Gaylor, Iii,
County Legislator, Nassau County, New York Beth Hunt, Treasurer, Hamilton
County, New York
Margaret M Kennedy, Board
Member, Otsego County Board of Supervisors, New York George Latimer,
Westchester County Executive, New York
John F Marren, Chairman,
Ontario County Board of Supervisors, New York Daniel P. McCoy, County
Executive, Albany County, New York
J Ryan McMahon II, County
Executive, Onondaga County, New York Marcus J Molinaro, County Executive,
Dutchess County, New York
Charles H Nesbitt, Jr, Chief
Administrative Officer, Orleans County, New York Steven M Neuhaus, County
Executive, Orange County, New York
Richard J Nicolello, Nassau County
Legislature, New York Maryellen Odell, County Executive, Carmel, New York
Matthew L Ossenfort, County
Executive, Montgomery County, New York Scott B Samuelson, County Legislator,
Sullivan County, New York Martha Sauerbrey, Chairperson, Tioga County, New York
Amy E Sayegh, Legislator,
Putnam County, New York Michael E Zurlo, Administrator, Clinton County, New
York Nassau County Village Officials Association
Adam M Acquario, Mayor of East Nassau, New York
Diane Argyle, Mayor of Valatie,
New York
Nicola Armacost, Mayor of
Hastings-On-Hudson, New York Louis Badolato, Mayor of Roslyn Harbor, New York
Ian Banks, Mayor of Village of Pomona, New York
James J Basile, Mayor of
Village of Fair Haven, New York Alan C Beach, Mayor of Lynbrook, New York
Bonnie
Apgar Bennett, Mayor of Village of Aurora, New
York Scott M Burto, Mayor of Village of West Carthage, New York Leland
Carpenter, Mayor of Village of Black River, New York Randy Casale, Mayor of
City of Beacon, New York
Jean Celender, Mayor of
Village of Great Neck Plaza, New York Philip F Chatterton, Mayor of Village of
Adams, New York
Josh Coh, Mayor of City of Rye, New York
Robert D Conway, Mayor of Village
of Voorheesville, New York Robert C Corby, Mayor of Village of Pittsford, New
York
Brendan G Coyne, Mayor of
Village of Cornwall-On-Hudson, New York Timmy J Currier, Mayor of Massena, New
York
Joseph M D’Agostino, Mayor of
Vernon, New York Michael E Dalton, Mayor of Canton, New York
Richard C David, Mayor of
City of Binghamton, New York Rick Davis, Mayor of City of Tonawanda, New York
Robert E De Natale, Mayor of
the Incorporated Village of Bayville, New York Joseph M Destefano, Mayor of
Middletown, New York
Barbara C Donno, Mayor of Village
of Plandome Manor, New York Paul A Dyster, Mayor of Niagara Falls, New York
Anthony Eramo, Mayor of Long
Beach, New York
Mark R Evans, Mayor of
Village of Coxsackie, New York Drew Fixell, Mayor of Tarrytown, New York
Melissa Flint-Morgan, Mayor of Tully, New York
Ralph R Foster, Mayor of
Village of Painted Post, New York Jerry Fremouw, Mayor of Village of Clyde, New
York Margot Garant, Mayor of Port Jefferson, New York
Victoria Gearity, Mayor of Ossining, New York
Vincent D George, Mayor of
Village of North Collins, New York Nora Haagenson, Mayor of Baxter Estates, New
York
Gary A Hadden, Mayor of
Village of Victor, New York William J Von Hagn, Mayor of Village of Bath, New
York Rordan Hart, Mayor of Village of Trumansburg, New York Ron Harting, Mayor of Village of Windsor, New York Rick
Hauser, Mayor of Perry, New York
Adam C Hoffman, Mayor of Lake
Success, New York
Jeffrey Hornburg, Mayor of
Village of Silver Creek, New York John F Howe, Mayor of Chatham, New York
Jacqueline M Izzo, Mayor of
City of Rome, New York Steven D Jeffers, Mayor of Oriskany Falls, New York
Lynne M Johnson, Mayor of Albion, New York
Nancy Kaboolian, Mayor of Village
of Ardsley, New York Meg Kelly, Mayor of Saratoga Springs, New York
Robert Kennedy, Mayor of Freeport, New York
Michael R Koblenz, Mayor of
Village of East Hills, New York Michael A Lavorata, Mayor of Village of
Lindenhurst, New York Arthur Lawson, Mayor of Village of Wilson Mayor, New York
Frank A Leak, Mayor of Village of Colonie, New York
Dr. Gregory Letica, Mayor of Village of Asharoken, New
York
James A Lofranco, Mayor of
Village South Blooming Grove, New York RuthAnn Speer Loveless, Mayor of
Hamilton, New York
Greg Luisi, Mayor of Tuckahoe, New York
Hal McCabe, Mayor of Village
of Homer, New York Gary R McCarthy, Mayor of Schenectady, New York
Janet S McFetridge, Mayor of
Village of Champlain, New York Carolann McGrath, Mayor of Village of Hancock,
New York Robert Mcloughlin, Mayor of Dobbs Ferry, New York
Damon McMullen, Mayor of
Village of Northport, New York James
Miccio, Mayor of Village of Fishkill, New York
Richard B Milne, Mayor of
Village Of Honeoye Falls, New York
Thomas Minutillo, Mayor of Village of Plandome, New York Rich Mooney, Mayor of
City of Rensselaer, New York
Shawn M Morse, Mayor of Cohoes, New York
Chance Mullen, Mayor of
Village of Pelham, New York Mark Muller, Mayor of Gilbertsville, New York
Michael J Murphy, Mayor of
Village of Dryden, New York Francis X Murray, Mayor of Rockville Centre, New
York Svante Myrick, Mayor of Ithaca, New York
Kevin Neary, Mayor of Village of
Richmondville, New York Mark A Netti, Mayor of Herkimer, New York
Steven T Noble, Mayor of
Kingston, New York Mike Onorato, Mayor of Stewart Manor, New York
Michael Parks, Mayor of
Village of Wayland, New York Gary Penders, Mayor of Spencerport, New York
Gina D Picinich, Mayor of
Mount Kisco, New York Ellen M Polimeni, Mayor of Canandaigua, New York Jeffrey
Pravat, Mayor of Massapequa Park, New York Frank M Provo, Mayor of Mount
Morris, New York
Michael Queenan, Mayor of Village
of Woodbury, New York Andre Rainey, Mayor of Peekskill, New York
Monica Recktenwald, Mayor of
Village of Canisteo, New York
Frederick Ricci, Mayor of East Rochester, New
York
Paul F Rickenbach, Mayor of
Village of East Hampton, New York
Thomas M Roach, Mayor of White Plains, New York
Michelle M Roman, Mayor of
Lockport, New York Bruno F Romano, Mayor of East Rockaway, New York
Sandra Schroeder, Mayor of Village of Sag Harbor, New York
Ralph A Scordino, Mayor of
Babylon, New York
Robert J Scottaline, Mayor
of Village of Lake Grove, New York Randy M Shayler, Mayor of Village of
Wellsville, New York Kathy Sheehan, Mayor of Albany, New York
Dennis M Siry, Mayor of
Amityville, New York Stephen Sommers, Mayor of Fabius, New York
Scott P Strauss, Mayor of Village of Mineola, New York
Robert T Tackman, Mayor of
Village of East Syracuse, New York Samuel Teresi, Mayor of Jamestown, New York
James J Thompson, Mayor of Wurtsboro, New York
Ellen R Tillapaugh, Mayor of
Village of Cooperstown, New York Reinhold J Tischler, Mayor of Village of
Potsdam, New York Michael VandeVelde, Mayor of Westfield, New York
Steven A Vescio, Mayor of Village
of Briarcliff Manor, New York Michael J Villa, Mayor of Amsterdam, New York
Richard Merritt Wagar, Mayor
of Village of Riverside, New York Lorraine Walsh, Mayor of Larchmont, New York
Steven Weinberg, Mayor of
Village of Thomaston, New York Anne Welch, Mayor of Village of Lewiston, New
York
Paul D Whorrall, Mayor of
Village of Manlius, New York Robert Williams, Mayor of Village of Elmsford, New
York Ronald E Wilson, Mayor of Village of Port Byron, New York Russell Wood,
Mayor of Village of Bloomingburg, New York Judith A Woodshaw, Mayor of
Stillwater, New York
Robert M Zack, Mayor of Village of Laurens, New York
CC: The Honorable Jerrold Nadler; Chairman,
House Judiciary Committee
The Honorable Doug Collins;
Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee
