Why have our Representatives Forgotten 9/11 Victims?

[Guest]

I am a retired Detective Investigator who served 26 years in the City of New York, with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. During that time I participated in many operations that I felt made a positive impact on the community I served, none as important as the one we all undertook on that faithful day back on September 11, 2001. It is a day I will never forget for as long as I live. Words cannot describe the devastation that occurred on that day. Thousands lost their lives, families were forever changed, not just in the Police and Fire communities, but civilians as well. The one thing that emerged from this horrific day was that people pulled together to help a shocked city. People from all over the country came to Ground Zero to help with rescue and recovery efforts. I remember working alongside police officers from Florida, California, and New Jersey, all with the express purpose to give closure to the thousands that needed answers on their loved ones. I remember President Bush standing on top of a Fire Truck speaking to all of us rescue workers, thanking us for our sacrifice. We tolled for as many as 18 hours a day in the beginning, working until we were ordered to go home rest and come back. We would have worked for 24 hours if we could.
Then in January 2, 2011 The President signed the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act referred to as the “Zadroga Bill” into law. This bill would provide funding for desperately needed health monitoring for the people that worked at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pa. The Bill had a time limit of five years. Since then thousands of people have been monitored and helped thru this program. Even now we are discovering that many have been diagnosed with various types of cancers attributed to the toxins at Ground Zero. Many are being treated, many have died. I’ve learned that besides New York and New Jersey, Florida has the highest number of people enrolled in the 9/11 Health and Monitoring Program. I find it funny that in a District that has a congressman who on his website claims to have been a 30 year member of Law Enforcement, and has a son who is a Deputy Sheriff and a son in the military, that he would not be one of the FIRST to sign on to the re-authorization of this important piece of legislation. Back in October of this year I emailed the Congressman to ask this very question. I received an automated response stating that he appreciates my contacting him and he always responds to his constitutes and he would get back to me. After five weeks of waiting I went to his office on 466 to make an appointment. I met with Al Harrison who told me I wasn’t the first to come here on this issue. He was stunned to hear that I never received an email response from the Congressman. Mr. Harrison told me he would call up to Washington and find out why Mr. Nugent was not on board. I explained to him that this is a bipartisan Bill with over 246 co-sponsors. I know The Villages is passionate about getting involved in tough issues, I also know that there are people here who like me are sick from their work at Ground Zero, so I have come here to ask for support to get our Congressman Richard Nugent to do the right thing and join the other sixteen legislators from Florida and sign on to this important bill and keep the 9/11 Health and Monitoring program going

[Guest]

I am a retired Detective Investigator who served 26 years in the City of New York, with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. During that time I participated in many operations that I felt made a positive impact on the community I served, none as important as the one we all undertook on that faithful day back on September 11, 2001. It is a day I will never forget for as long as I live. Words cannot describe the devastation that occurred on that day. Thousands lost their lives, families were forever changed, not just in the Police and Fire communities, but civilians as well. The one thing that emerged from this horrific day was that people pulled together to help a shocked city. People from all over the country came to Ground Zero to help with rescue and recovery efforts. I remember working alongside police officers from Florida, California, and New Jersey, all with the express purpose to give closure to the thousands that needed answers on their loved ones. I remember President Bush standing on top of a Fire Truck speaking to all of us rescue workers, thanking us for our sacrifice. We tolled for as many as 18 hours a day in the beginning, working until we were ordered to go home rest and come back. We would have worked for 24 hours if we could.
Then in January 2, 2011 The President signed the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act referred to as the “Zadroga Bill” into law. This bill would provide funding for desperately needed health monitoring for the people that worked at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pa. The Bill had a time limit of five years. Since then thousands of people have been monitored and helped thru this program. Even now we are discovering that many have been diagnosed with various types of cancers attributed to the toxins at Ground Zero. Many are being treated, many have died. I’ve learned that besides New York and New Jersey, Florida has the highest number of people enrolled in the 9/11 Health and Monitoring Program. I find it funny that in a District that has a congressman who on his website claims to have been a 30 year member of Law Enforcement, and has a son who is a Deputy Sheriff and a son in the military, that he would not be one of the FIRST to sign on to the re-authorization of this important piece of legislation. Back in October of this year I emailed the Congressman to ask this very question. I received an automated response stating that he appreciates my contacting him and he always responds to his constitutes and he would get back to me. After five weeks of waiting I went to his office on 466 to make an appointment. I met with Al Harrison who told me I wasn’t the first to come here on this issue. He was stunned to hear that I never received an email response from the Congressman. Mr. Harrison told me he would call up to Washington and find out why Mr. Nugent was not on board. I explained to him that this is a bipartisan Bill with over 246 co-sponsors. I know The Villages is passionate about getting involved in tough issues, I also know that there are people here who like me are sick from their work at Ground Zero, so I have come here to ask for support to get our Congressman Richard Nugent to do the right thing and join the other sixteen legislators from Florida and sign on to this important bill and keep the 9/11 Health and Monitoring program going

The funding for the current legislation is fine until next fall.

The renewal will probably take a new form and has total bipartisan support and actually is already with the backers, veto proof.

A number of variations are being discussed and it will happen, and probably with better language.

The funding is important no doubt but the sense of urgency is political because it has time and it will pass overwhelmingly bipartisan.

[Guest]

Actually, here is good website to keep up with the current news on this bill.

And NOBODY has forgotten....actually one of the changes being discussed expands the coverage to assist those harmed in other terrorist attacks, such as in Beirut who have been forgotten.

NOBODY has forgotten...do not allow politicians to use this to incite you.

News Articles on effort to renew the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act – 2015 | Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act (http://www.renew911health.org/news-articles-on-effort-to-renew-the-911-health-and-compensation-act/)

[Guest]

I do understand that but I'm curious why it had to expire first...I know its a political move. I still would love to know why Congressman Nugent a FORMER member of Law Enforcement hasn't signed on yet??? And why he hasn't responded to both my email and my visit to his office??

[Guest]

Are my posts being edited??

[Guest]

It appears that the Republicans are the reason that the Act has not been extended. Bob Goodlatte (R) is trying to get a much pared down bill passed and Paul Ryan seems to be going along with that effort.

In the meantime, Mayor DiBlassio has 27 big city mayors pushing for the extension of the Act that would help those from that terrible day.

[Guest]

I was reading that in the NY papers today....I'm wondering if your mention of Bob Goodlatte will be edited out of your post?? I called my elected Representative on it in my initial post and it seems my post was edited for some reason as the name of the bill and the Rep's name were removed.. And thanks to the person who posted the website to keep up with the news on this issue. I was looking it over and see that Bob Goodlatte's bill comes up BILLIONS short in funding.

[Guest]

The funding for the current legislation is fine until next fall.

The renewal will probably take a new form and has total bipartisan support and actually is already with the backers, veto proof.

A number of variations are being discussed and it will happen, and probably with better language.

The funding is important no doubt but the sense of urgency is political because it has time and it will pass overwhelmingly bipartisan.

The language as proposed by the Bills ORIGINAL SPONSORS was fine as it was. no new form is needed as the ORIGINAL re authorization bill has over 200 sponsors. By the way I see that my original post was edited by someone who did not like me using NAMES...anyone who would like to see my ORIGINAL post please feel free to email me at tfranzolin@thevillages.net

[Guest]

It appears that the Republicans are the reason that the Act has not been extended. Bob Goodlatte (R) is trying to get a much pared down bill passed and Paul Ryan seems to be going along with that effort.

In the meantime, Mayor DiBlassio has 27 big city mayors pushing for the extension of the Act that would help those from that terrible day.

Now I get it....this thread had/has me puzzled...

1. A title saying representatives have forgotten...WHY would some name this thread in that manner, and write an OP basically saying the same thing, WHEN he admits in post 4 that he understands there will be no problem and it has almost universal support.

2. Then he wonders why a retiring congress man is not signed on. Not sure what "signed on" means, and wonder then if his/her concern is for the bill, and he knows there are no problems why he has to have some satisfaction from this retiring guy.

3. Then we begin attacking a political party and now I got it.

This thread has nothing to do with concern for the bill at all because there is none.

Congresswomen from NY has her ideas on structuring and is pushing hard (her right and actual responsibility), and it has found its way to, and I now suspect the originator, and SHE is posting this to create a political issue where one does not exist.

WOW...some folks never stop.

This bill has people from both sides of the aisle protecting it. It is not a political issue, and those who make it one should be ashamed of themselves

I also might add that on my screen nothing has been deleted or changed..this little dig locally is one of the things that give away the poster. She will never let up....so concerned she was not even aware of a website that captures any and all news regarding this

[Guest]

Now I get it....this thread had/has me puzzled...

1. A title saying representatives have forgotten...WHY would some name this thread in that manner, and write an OP basically saying the same thing, WHEN he admits in post 4 that he understands there will be no problem and it has almost universal support.

2. Then he wonders why a retiring congress man is not signed on. Not sure what "signed on" means, and wonder then if his/her concern is for the bill, and he knows there are no problems why he has to have some satisfaction from this retiring guy.

3. Then we begin attacking a political party and now I got it.

This thread has nothing to do with concern for the bill at all because there is none.

Congresswomen from NY has her ideas on structuring and is pushing hard (her right and actual responsibility), and it has found its way to, and I now suspect the originator, and SHE is posting this to create a political issue where one does not exist.

WOW...some folks never stop.

This bill has people from both sides of the aisle protecting it. It is not a political issue, and those who make it one should be ashamed of themselves

I also might add that on my screen nothing has been deleted or changed..this little dig locally is one of the things that give away the poster. She will never let up....so concerned she was not even aware of a website that captures any and all news regarding this

I apologize...it is SENATOR Kirsten Hildebrand, not representative. My error.

[Guest]

If I am in error, I apologize but I believe that the OP in this thread is a form letter garnered from either the site references or others like it.

Support Letters | Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act (http://www.renew911health.org/support-letters/)

If I am wrong, and I dont think I am, I deeply apologize but do recognize the politics of this situation.

I do not care what side of the aisle makes politics of this, I still think they should be embarassed.

NO POSTER here has any idea of what might be in this bill, and if they do they are privy to things the public is not aware of.

This is using politics by somebody

[Guest]

Should this forum be used for the propagation of petitions, form letters and the like for passage or non passage of any bill, whether we agree with it or nit ?

Should it not be required that any OP should be the words of that poster or a link provided to be able to know the source ?

This has nothing to do with any feelings on this bill; I find this use of this forum to be dishonest.

Again, if I am wrong, show me, but there are a number of websites allowing someone to use form letters like this. I find it extremely dishonest being used here.

Just my opinion.

[Guest]

Now I get it....this thread had/has me puzzled...

1. A title saying representatives have forgotten...WHY would some name this thread in that manner, and write an OP basically saying the same thing, WHEN he admits in post 4 that he understands there will be no problem and it has almost universal support.

2. Then he wonders why a retiring congress man is not signed on. Not sure what "signed on" means, and wonder then if his/her concern is for the bill, and he knows there are no problems why he has to have some satisfaction from this retiring guy.

3. Then we begin attacking a political party and now I got it.

This thread has nothing to do with concern for the bill at all because there is none.

Congresswomen from NY has her ideas on structuring and is pushing hard (her right and actual responsibility), and it has found its way to, and I now suspect the originator, and SHE is posting this to create a political issue where one does not exist.

WOW...some folks never stop.

This bill has people from both sides of the aisle protecting it. It is not a political issue, and those who make it one should be ashamed of themselves

I also might add that on my screen nothing has been deleted or changed..this little dig locally is one of the things that give away the poster. She will never let up....so concerned she was not even aware of a website that captures any and all news regarding this

First of all as a registered republican and a police officer who was there on that day and forced into retirement due to my exposure let me say this....I very much care about this legislation and HOW its worded. I went to Washington to help lobby for its passage and know first hand how things are up there....Second, I know this bill will pass...HOW its worded is what concerns me. First if Rep Goodlatte gets his way he will cut funding and the bill would only be for five years. Then its back to Washington to try and have the bill re-authorized again. If its not a political issue what has stopped it from comming to the floor for a vote worded as is?? Afterall there are over 256 legislators already signed on for the bill as worded. Since this bill was passed in 2011, we are learning that many people have developed various cancers due to there exposure and its this very fund that helps with the monitoring and treatment of these people. This is NOT something that will be gone in five years. Oh and as far as what "Signed On" means...it means to be a co-sponsor on the bill and it shows support. As for my Congressman who is retiring (which I did not know and should have been told when I went to his office), All I wanted to know is WHY he chose not to be a co sponsor on the bill, which to me is surprising considering he is a former Sheriff.

[Guest]

If you go to this website, on which you will find many letters "similar" to yours, you can enter your zip code.

Legislation | Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act (http://www.renew911health.org/legislation/)

That will take you from your website to a statement by Rep Nugent.

Take Action: Urge your Member of Congress to Sponsor the 9/11 Health Bill | Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act (http://www.renew911health.org/take-action/take-action-contact-your-members-of-congress/?r911ml-id=N000185#N000185)

That is pretty easy....all on your own sponsored websites and has been there.

[Guest]

Should this forum be used for the propagation of petitions, form letters and the like for passage or non passage of any bill, whether we agree with it or nit ?

Should it not be required that any OP should be the words of that poster or a link provided to be able to know the source ?

This has nothing to do with any feelings on this bill; I find this use of this forum to be dishonest.

Again, if I am wrong, show me, but there are a number of websites allowing someone to use form letters like this. I find it extremely dishonest being used here.

Just my opinion.

This is not a form letter, I LIVE in The Villages and wrote this because I wanted answers as to why after trying to contact my congressman the "right" way by going to his office and even emailing him, I was getting nowhere. This forum was to make people aware that we have representatives not just in Florida but all over the country who feel that 14 yrs later 9/11 is over.....but as you can see its something that will be with alot of us for the rest of our lives. Plus I thought that "Talk of the Villages" was a place where you can speak your mind and be in contact with other like minded persons who you can work with to achieve a goal. I'm sorry if I offended you, it was not my intention to be dishonest.

[Guest]

If you go to this website, on which you will find many letters "similar" to yours, you can enter your zip code.

Legislation | Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act (http://www.renew911health.org/legislation/)

That will take you from your website to a statement by Rep Nugent.

Take Action: Urge your Member of Congress to Sponsor the 9/11 Health Bill | Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act (http://www.renew911health.org/take-action/take-action-contact-your-members-of-congress/?r911ml-id=N000185#N000185)

That is pretty easy....all on your own sponsored websites and has been there.

Thank you for that information....I just looked it over and I'm happy to see that the congressman is closely monitoring the situation. I look forward to reading his position on the legislation either for or against.

[Guest]

Thank you for that information....I just looked it over and I'm happy to see that the congressman is closely monitoring the situation. I look forward to reading his position on the legislation either for or against.

I know of NOBODY who is against the legislation.

Understand, this bill is national news and anyone interested should be aware.

My objection, and if it was not you I apologize, was the immediate mentioning of party affiliation and stone throwing.

You, nor anybody on this forum has any idea of how this will be structured.

There is an ongoing, extremely aggressive online push and many are making it political, and I will jump to the head of the line to bash those making it political, especially with time and multiple versions of the bill. I just find that offensive.

I am tired of being put on a "guilt trip"....either support this or you are a war monger...if you don't support this, you are a racist, etc.

This entire thread from implicitly saying that our representatives have "forgotten" those who were involved in 9/11 to implying somehow A single rep in Florida was opposed is just not right.

Discussing an issue without a form letter and making known your feelings is fine, but and this is just me, found this entire thread to be very much devious and misleading.

There is, and as I said I understand why, a lot of pressure being applied, but to start with the party slam so soon is just wrong. Last I looked there were about 60 Republicans have "signed on", yet we got the political snidness.

And again, I see NO modification if anyone's post, nor any deletions.