The amendment was offered in the wake of a recently released Mount Sinai Medical Center study describing the health of Ground Zero first responders. The study found that nearly 70 percent of responders to the 9/11 attacks suffered respiratory problems as a direct result of their response. The findings are based on medical examinations performed as part of the World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program.

“The Mount Sinai Medical Center findings clearly demonstrate the dangers facing fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who respond to large-scale disasters,” says IAFF General President Schaitberger. “I thank Senators Voinovich and Clinton for recognizing these dangers and congratulate the Senate on voting to establish medical monitoring programs to protect the health and well-being of fire fighters responding to future disasters.”

Senators Voinovich and Clinton introduced free-standing legislation last year to create a monitoring program, and worked with the IAFF to redraft the proposal as an amendment that could be added to the Port Security legislation. Initially, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) raised objections that could have blocked Senate consideration. Voinovich and Clinton made some technical changes, and Coburn agreed to support the bill after discussions with Oklahoma fire fighters. IAFF 11th District Vice-President Sandy McGhee played a key role in helping to break the impasse.

H.R. 4954 passed the U.S. House of Representatives in May without the medical monitoring provision. The bill will now be considered by a House-Senate conference committee, where differences between the bills as passed by each chamber must be resolved.

Although final action is unlikely to occur before Congress breaks for the November elections, Congress is expected to return to Washington for a post-election “lame-duck” session to address a number of pending items. The IAFF will be working to put HR 4954 on the agenda.