Nadler: Government Officials Betrayed The Public In The Aftermath Of 9/11

Nadler led the fight to fund medical treatment and financial compensation for the thousands of responders, survivors, and community members who are sick from exposure to toxins related to the 9/11 attacks across the nation. His bill, the Zagroga Act , was passed in 2010. For years, Congressman Nadler has demanded the release of the files published today. Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) joined Mayor Mamdani to announce the release of more than 170,000 pages of City records documenting the government’s response to the attacks on September 11, 2001 and the aftermath related to the environmental hazards at and around Ground Zero. His remarks can be viewed HERE and read below: "Thank you for having me here today. "We are here today to remember the innocent lives that were devastated in the days, weeks, and months following the deadly terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. "We are here to honor the heroes who ran toward the towers as the planes struck, who combed through the rubble to save survivors, and who worked tirelessly to clean up the wreckage. "We are here to honor the men, women, and children who did not know the danger they were facing as they slept in their homes, went to school, and returned to work. "When our communities were at their most vulnerable, people turned to trusted sources—including their government—to guide them through this crisis. "Government officials betrayed that trust by suspecting, and later knowing, the environmental hazards from the catastrophe and failing to tell the public. "The air was unsafe. It was filled with toxic substances that sickened the people who breathed it in. And 25 years later, our neighbors and heroes are still falling seriously ill because of these toxins. "My colleagues and I who represented Ground Zero and the surrounding communities immediately warned local and federal officials about the health risks posed by the toxins in the air. "I was screaming at the top of my lungs to protect our communities, my constituents. But officials like EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman and Mayor Guiliani, denied claims like mine, saying the air was “perfectly safe." Blasphemous. "The failure of government officials to share this information with the public and adequately respond to the danger has had devastating—and, in too many cases, fatal—consequences. "Now, we and the public know that City Hall, led by former Mayor Giuliani, predicted that thousands of responders and community members would face devastating long-term health consequences from these toxins. Despite this, he stayed silent on the hazards. "Eventually, the air became safe to breathe again. But officials continued to withhold the truth about the environmental hazards from the people who had been exposed. "Their decision to deny the toxicity of the air that people had breathed in was a slap in the face of the heroes and community members who were exposed at Ground Zero and in schools, offices, and homes throughout the surrounding area. "By hiding the truth, our fight in Congress to secure funding to address the health needs of 9/11 victims was an uphill battle. As a result, too many people faced unnecessary delays in accessing the healthcare they needed—sometimes with fatal consequences. "For years and across multiple City Hall administrations, I have led leaders in Congress to demand the release of these files. I am glad that this is finally happening. "The damage to the health of 9/11 victims, and the suffering they have endured and will continue to endure, cannot be erased. But I am grateful to the Mamdani administration, specifically to Steve Banks, and to Speaker Menin, Councilmember Brewer, Ben Chevat of 9/11 Health Watch, and Kimberly Flynn of 9/11 Environmental Action, for making today possible. Thank you for your commitment to release these files so that victims and their loved ones can finally have the transparency they deserve. "Officials in the future will know that actions have consequences—the truth will always come to light. "I am proud to be here today as we take this monumental step towards justice. "My heart is with those who are sick today. My heart is with those who have lost loved ones. My heart is with our community who still reels from the pain." ### Congressman Nadler represented Ground Zero and the surrounding communities until 2022, when the district boundaries were redrawn and Lower Manhattan was placed outside of his district.