AFSCME to Bush: Keep Your Promise!

WASHINGTON, D.C.

President Bush is breaking his promise to provide resources for the treatment of Ground Zero workers who were injured or made ill during their rescue and recovery effort following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. His administration is pushing for legislation that would rescind the $125-million workers compensation and retraining program already appropriated by Congress.

"The government is reneging on its promise to help injured workers like me," said Ron Vega, a member of New York City's Local 375 (DC 37), who spent 10 months in Ground Zero overseeing the construction crews. "It means that it will be even harder for me to get the health treatment and monitoring I need."

Speaking at a recent press conference on Capitol Hill, Vega said that he suffers from respiratory problems, liver damage and post-traumatic-stress disorder. As a result of exposure to the contaminated site, many Ground Zero workers are now afflicted with asthma, psychological illnesses, and other chronic and disabling diseases. Some of them, including DC 37 members, traveled to Washington to lobby senators and representatives.

Several New York members of Congress, including Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D), have joined the 9/11 responders in urging the President to withdraw the $125 million take-back and, if he doesn't, urging Congress to block it. "We have an obligation to take care of the people who take care of us," said Clinton.