9/11 News Items (9/19/25)
Arnold Korotkin
Courage After Tragedy: Kristen Breitweiser’s Fight for Justice In the Wake of 9/11
 |
Below are summaries with URLs to news articles on the effort to ensure that the World Trade Center Health Program is fully funded. An archive of past articles year by year can by found on the Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Inc. website here.
September 16, 2025 — NJ Spotlight News — Op-Ed: Properly funding World Trade Center Health program is ‘least we can do’
Without additional funding in the current session of Congress, the health program would have to deny new enrollments by 2027 and, ultimately, limit services for existing members.
September 15, 2025 — South Shore Press — State Grants Long-Delayed 9/11 Disability Benefits to Widow of Suffolk Deputy Sheriff
More than two decades after the September 11 attacks, the widow of Suffolk Deputy Sheriff Richard Stueber will finally receive the disability benefits her husband earned for his service at the World Trade Center site.
September 14, 2025 — New York Times — A Dust Sample Handled With Care
After the destruction of the World Trade Center, an urgent question lingered in Lower Manhattan: What was in the air?
September 13, 2025 — WBAI (Pacifica Radio) — 9/11 WTC and the Lie That Keeps on Killing
A common feeling among this 9/11 WTC cohort is that the system designed to “help” them is dominated by red tape that seems likely to hasten their demise. Like the veterans who were ordered to charge into atmospheric atomic testing or were exposed to Agent Orange during Vietnam, our system is at best ambivalent about […]
September 13, 2025 — Newsday — Kennedy’s leadership puts all of us in danger
Since Kennedy took over HHS, first responders and others suffering from illnesses due to the toxic fumes in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks haven’t been able to get the research, care, treatment or even communication they deserve.
September 12, 2025 — The Chief — Lawmakers try to revive, once again, the 9/11 Workers Protection Task Force
Nearly 20 years after it was first created, recently enacted legislation looks to breathe new life into a panel of New York state and local officials charged with looking into the impacts of toxic exposures at ground zero and making recommendations on retirement and disability benefits.
September 12, 2025 — NBC Palm Springs — 24 Years Later: 9/11 First Responders and Survivors Still Battle Health Conditions
According to the CDC, approximately 400,000 people were exposed to hazardous substances during and in the months following the attacks. These exposures have resulted in a wide range of documented health conditions affecting first responders, survivors, and area residents.
September 12, 2025 — New York Post — Fox News correspondent Eric Shawn reveals 9/11-related cancer diagnosis
Shawn made the revelation during Thursday’s live broadcast from Lower Manhattan on the 24th anniversary of September 11th, telling viewers he has “two different diagnoses under the World Trade Center Program.”
September 11, 2025 — Fox News — Fox News’ Eric Shawn reveals cancer and respiratory illness from 9/11 toxic dust
“I have two different diagnoses under the World Trade Center Program,” he said, referencing the federal program that provides monitoring and treatment for survivors, responders and others directly affected in New York, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
September 11, 2025 — WLNS 6 — ‘Couldn’t believe’: Michigan woman recalls 9/11 tragedy
24 years ago, when the deadliest terrorist attack in history happened, one Michigan woman watched it unfold from her college dorm room. She says the tragedy would later turn her life upside down.
September 11, 2025 — WPLG Local10.com — Veteran 9/11 first responders continue to face health challenges 24 years later
Many of the first responders who worked at the three 9/11 sites in Manhattan, Arlington, and Shanksville — where 2,977 people died on Sept. 11, 2001 — have suffered respiratory illnesses, cancers, and mental health conditions.
September 11, 2025 — CBS Evening News — Funding cuts hinder health program for 9/11 first responders
More than 400 firefighters have died due to health complications from working in the toxic debris at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks. Dr. Steven Markowitz, a member of the board which advises the World Trade Center health program, joins to discuss.
September 11, 2025 — CBS News — 9/11 victims “deserve better from Congress,” first responder advocate says
As the nation marks 24 years since the deadly terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, advocates are calling on Congress to approve more funding to care for first responders and survivors.
September 11, 2025 — NorthJersey.com — NJ EMT who treated the wounded on 9/11 now battles colon cancer
Although it is extremely difficult to find the exact cause of most cancers, Garrafa and his doctors believe it came from his work on 9/11.
September 11, 2025 — NJ.com — These brave 9/11 heroes are missing from New Jersey’s memorial and lawmakers want to fix that
Congressional lawmakers say that survivors of the attacks who have died from related illnesses should have their names inscribed on the memorial.
September 11, 2025 — Spectrum News NY1 — Sept. 11 attacks still impacting first responders 24 years later
Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York, which represents 20,000 active duty and retired New York City firefighters, and Nicholas Papain, a personal injury lawyer whose firm has secured more than $1 billion for 9/11 survivors and victims, joined “Inside City Hall” to reflect on the continuing aftermath of the […]
September 11, 2025 — News12 Long Island — Lawmakers call for full funding of 9/11 health program facing $3B shortfall
There are new calls to fully fund the World Trade Center Health Program, which helps nearly 140,000 first responders and survivors.
September 11, 2025 — Forbes Breaking News — Chuck Schumer Rails Against ‘Immoral’ Cuts To World Trade Center Health Program
During Senate floor remarks on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke about cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program.
September 11, 2025 — The Broadsheet — WTC Health Program Symptoms: No Answers on New Conditions, Contracts in Limbo, Communications on ‘Hiatus’
Local leaders, activists, and elected officials are sounding the alarm about inaction and administrative chaos at the World Trade Center Health Program, which serves people made sick by toxic debris from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
September 11, 2025 — Newsweek — 9/11 Health Program Cuts Could Hit Over 140K Americans—’Going to Get Worse’
Advocates are sounding the alarm for Congress to act expeditiously in response to funding cuts that can have long-term negative implications on more than 140,000 survivors and first responders who benefit from World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) funding.
September 11, 2025 — The Brian Lehrer Show — 9/11’s Lasting Health Effects
Steven Markowitz, MD DrPH, an occupational medicine physician, internist, and epidemiologist who directs the Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment at the City University of New York, talks about the latest data from the World Trade Center Health Program.
Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act Inc. |
 |
24th Anniversary Commemoration Benefit Fundraiser to Support 911 Health Watch Inc.
Thursday, October 16, 2025
5:30pm – 7:30pm
New York Area Metro Conference Center
350 West 31st Street, 1st Floor
New York, NY 10001
Please note new location.
911 Health Watch is an independent “Watch Group” that monitors the implementation of the James Zadroga 911 Health and Compensation Act, and ensures that responders and survivors are properly cared for during their lifetime. This work is as important as ever as the number of sick and injured 9/11 responders and survivors continue to mount, 9/11 related cancers are on the rise and new adverse health conditions of concern are emerging.
Our honorees this year have gone above and beyond to advocate for 911 responders and survivors.
RYAN DELGADO
DIRECTOR OF STATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS – NEW YORK NATIONAL GRID
Ryan Delgado is the former President of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act and Treasurer of 911 Health Watch. During his time on the Boards of Directors, Ryan was part of the organizations’ successful efforts to fully fund and make functionally permanent the VCF and WTCHP, as well as to ensure the programs fulfilled their obligations to injured and ill 9/11 responders, survivors and their families.
Ryan is currently Director of State Government Relations for National Grid, one of the state’s largest utility companies. Prior to joining the company, Ryan worked throughout the Union Movement, much of that time as Chief of Staff of the New York State AFL-CIO. He also has worked for the Public Employees Federation, RWDSU/UFCW Local 1102, and the New York City Central Labor Council.
JOHN MURPHY
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE, THE UNITED ASSOCIATION OF JOURNEYMEN AND APPRENTICES OF THE PLUMBING AND PIPEFITTING INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
John J. Murphy was initiated into the membership of the former UA Local 2, the home Local of George Meany, in January of 1984. He is a fourth-generation union plumber in the city of New York.
In 1996 John was elected as Recording Secretary and has since been elected as a Business Agent, Financial Secretary-Treasurer and Business Manager, a position that he held until his unanimous elections as a UA International Representative in 2016 and 2021. His duties include representing 12 UA local unions in New York with more than 24,000 members.
John is a Vice President of the New York City Central Labor Council, New York State Building and Construction Trades Council and the New York State AFL-CIO. He serves on the boards of NYS Helmets to Hardhats, Climate Jobs NY, Climate Jobs National Resource Center, the Workers Institute Advisory Council at Cornell University.
John is extremely proud of and grateful for the selfless actions of so many UA members who, along with countless building trades members, raced to Ground Zero on 9/11 while millions were fleeing the city. Those efforts along with the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site illustrates the indelible power of the human spirit and what it means to be an American.
Tickets are $250 each.
HOW TO RSVP
You can support our efforts and RSVP in two ways:
- Download the invitation with response card, fill out the response card, and mail it to us with a check; or
- Register online with any major credit card.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Benefactor ($5,000)
Sponsorship includes 4 tickets to the benefit as well as your organization’s name and logo listed as Benefactor both online and during the event.
Advocate ($10,000)
Sponsorship includes 6 tickets to the benefit as well as your organization’s name and logo listed as Advocate both online and during the event.
Champion ($25,000)
Sponsorship includes 10 tickets to the benefit as well as your organization’s name and logo listed as Champion both online and during the event.
Hero ($40,000)
Sponsorship includes 20 tickets to the benefit as well as your organization’s name and logo listed as Hero both online and during the event.
911 Health Watch, Inc. has received a determination by the IRS that it is tax-exempt as a section 501(c)(3) public charity. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
9/11 Health Watch
c/o NYS AFL-CIO
100 South Swan Street
Albany, NY 12210