New York City Member Testifies About 9/11 Health Impact

Ron Vega
Ron Vega testifying during oversight hearings in Congress
Photo Credit: Jon Melegrito
Representing AFSCME DC 37 members who did rescue and recovery work at Ground Zero on and after Sept. 11, Local 375's Ron Vega testified on Feb. 28 before a U.S House subcommittee that's looking into public health and safety issues related to the World Trade Center attacks. Vega joined a panel of witnesses who spoke about the inadequate and uncoordinated response by local, state and federal governments to the health needs of those who were affected by 9/11 and the huge clean-up operation that followed.

Vega, a construction design manager with the city's Department of Design and Construction (DDC), was deployed at Ground Zero for 300 days, working 10-hour shifts seven days a week, exposed to chemicals, smoke, fire and odors from human remains.

"Our members worried about the long-term health effects of toxins and other pollutants," Vega said. "But no one wanted to get tested for fear that the results would reveal serious health or mental concerns that would preclude us from working on the site. Instead, we continued day and night. We wanted to get the job done."

Citing his own medical examination results, Vega testified that there are high levels of mercury and arsenic in his blood, causing severe stress, frequent headaches and shortness of breath. He brought a hush to the hearing room when he declared that he expects to die of his 9/11-related illnesses.

Throughout its campaign to ensure proper medical care for its affected members, DC 37 has pointed out the need for special funding because the existing health care and workers' compensation system are inadequate.

During the oversight hearings, subcommittee member U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) emphasized the "need to know why those that are sick from their exposure to Ground Zero aren't getting the medical monitoring and treatment that they need and deserve." She has asked the House Government Reform Committee to further address the public health impacts of the World Trade Center attacks.