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The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health heard supporting statements for the James Zadroga Act, named for an NYPD Detective who died from sicknesses many believe he contracted from toxins while doing rescue and recovery work at Ground Zero.

Would Also Pay for Research

In addition to funding medical services for responders and residents, the bill would establish a research program to spot medical trends among those affected by 9/11.

In his testimony, the Mayor said the bill "would end misplaced efforts to assign blame to the city and the companies who worked to bring New York back from 9/11, instead of to the terrorists who attacked our nation." He added that "it would send the clear message that if — God forbid — terrorists strike us again, contractors and responders can meet the challenge urgently and unselfishly, knowing their government stands behind them."

Governor Paterson said in a statement, "In New York, we reached an agreement last month to expand health benefits to the brave men and women who responded to the attacks, after a panel of experts found that the state's original benefits legislation was insufficient in covering all those affected. It is my hope that the Federal Government will follow suit ..."

U.S. Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Carolyn Maloney, who sponsored the bill, also addressed the panel.

"Building on the expertise of the Centers of Excellence, the bill would fill key gaps in how we are currently providing treatment and monitoring," Congressman Nadler said in written testimony. "The bill would also require substantial data collection regarding the nature and extent of WTC-related illnesses. This is a particularly critical provision as there is still so much we have to learn about these illnesses and how they may have affected different exposure populations. And finally, as you know, this legislation would provide an opportunity for compensation for economic damages and losses by reopening the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund."

The police and fire unions strongly support the bill, and the City Council okayed a resolution urging its passage earlier this year. Local 3621 of District Council 37, which represents Emergency Medical Service officers, has opposed one provision of the bill that would compel Fire Department personnel to use an in-house FDNY monitoring and treatment program.

The World Trade Center Community-Labor Coalition, which also supports the legislation, argued in a statement that the bill should be expanded, noting that it caps the number of enrollees who can receive treatment and monitoring at 35,000 and limits the scope of the area affected by 9/11 to a two-mile radius around Ground Zero.

Roy T. Richter, president of the Captains Endowment Association, said the annuity fund which it shares with the Lieutenants' union has paid $400,000 in drug costs for members with 9/11-related illnesses.

'Unable to Do Outreach'

"We have nearly 3,000 sick community members being treated in an entirely city-funded program — the World Trade Center Environmental Health Program at Bellevue Hospital — with countless others being treated elsewhere either because they don't know about the Bellevue program or for a host of other reasons," Congressman Nadler said. "Indeed, without a single Federal dollar going to the Bellevue program thus far, it hasn't even had the means to do any real outreach and marketing as of yet."

Calling the attacks a national tragedy, Mr. Bloomberg said the bill's passage would end the piecemeal subsidy the Federal Government has been giving the city, which was acutely affected by the attacks.

"The Federal Government has provided ad hoc appropriations for monitoring treatment for first responders and workers who answered the call on 9/11, as you know," he said. "Passing this bill would, at long last, fully engage the Federal Government in resolving the health challenges created by the attack on our entire nation that occurred on September 11."