Staten Island, NYC Inspiring Stories From September 11th: Operation Free Ride By Volunteer Taxi Drivers Helping Fellow Residents, Highlighting Resilience

In the video included above are the Mayor’s short speech on the morning of 9/11, before he headed out to various events, where he reminded us of the small, untold stories of heroism that abounded on that day.  How they tried to break us, but instead brought us all closer together.  New Yorker helping New Yorker.  We all were witness to that coming through the live broadcasts on our television screens.  There is also in the clip compilation the NYC TLC documentary describing the registered TLC drivers who asked for help volunteering to assist others at their own expense in the days following 9/11 (as soon as they were allowed), along with speeches by the mayor and others about the release of the records related to that day, where the City takes culpability and liability for the healthcare of those affected by 9/11-related illnesses. (If you don’t see the video yet, it will be added shortly as it is presently being edited). Below, you will find the release about the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission’s documentary on the drivers who, at their own expense, volunteered to bring New Yorkers home that day, as well as to donate blood, search for their loved ones, and aid in the search and rescue in the days that followed.

These drivers faced discrimination because of bigotry, and many believing that their headdress (a turban, like a scarf,  in most instances, where Sikh’s are involved) somehow connected them to the terrrorists who are alleged to have committed the crimes at 9/11 of hijacking the airliners and flying them directly into the Twin Towers.  You can learn a little more about Sikhism from our interview with Singh, a performer at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center whose music is deeply centered in his faith, which he also describes during the interview.  He also talked about Chardi Kala, the Sikh concept of revolutionary eternal optimism.  The comparison of Islam to Sikhism has been a confusing topic for some.  However, Islam is an Abrahamic faith that began in the 7th century in Arabia; Sikhism is a Dharmic faith founded in the 15th century in the Punjab region of India by Guru Nanak. So it is more comparable to and within the religious and spiritual confines of Hinduism, which is not related at all to Islam.  

Among the reasons for this confusion is because most Sikh men wear their beards and hair uncut, and many also wear a turban as part of their religious faith.  In the days and weeks following 9/11, images of various Muslim men wearing the same type of attire were broadcast, leading to widespread confusion and retaliatory feelings from many Americans.  However, it is not common for Muslim men to wear their hair and beards long or to wear turbans, though they sometimes do. The Sikh Coalition and other civil rights groups documented hundreds of incidents of assault, vandalism, and workplace discrimination against Sikhs in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, most notably the murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi, a gas station owner in Arizona who was the first recorded hate crime fatality following 9/11.  A public education campaign was launched by supporting groups, making clear who Sikhs were, and making them a larger part of the American consciousness.  Most of the drivers interviewed for the documentary did not face assault, but some in their community clearly did.  

The speech from the Mayor at St. Nicholas Church (which was completely rubble that was rebuilt)  is also included, along with NYC H+H’s reminder of eligibility for residents for healthcare applicable to World Trade Center related health conditions, and statements from several local politicians, including several islands representatives. 

Below the third story, find the video containing our discussion with Sara Director from Barasch & McGarry, the law firm partially responsible for administering claims related to these illnesses, and in obtaining for people the healthcare they are entitled to by these laws and now this new release and request from the Mayor that all who lived and worked in the area after that day are now able to receive this compensation as well.  

It should be noted that, unfortunately, 9-11-related illnesses are without a real ‘cure’ of any meanigful kind, so the treatments that are offered may prolong life but they can’t arrest the progress of illness completely.  This is cancer we are primarily discussing, and most cancer treatments have two possible outcomes: they succeed in killing the disease or they kill you.  Most patients who are diagnosed who undergo radiation find that the cancer has spread more frequently than not.  Those that use chemotherapy sometimes fare better, but also sometimes do not. ALL statistics related to cancer treatment (unlike pretty much any other health condition), ‘cured’ means alive at five years, whatever the condition or quality of life. 

As a result, even these therapies are often palliative, though sometimes they can be more extreme, such as a lung transplant, that can improve quality of life even without complete remission.  The progress of the conditions are, in many cases, up to the survivor themselves, but they aren’t told about it often enough. In our discussion with Barasch & McGarry regarding the healthcare programs, we talk briefly about the recommendations from the American Medical Association, that patients be counseled on improvements to their diet and to their lifestyle (particularly avoiding processed meats and junk food along with increasing their activity level).  The latest research on cancer discusses prevention and mitigation of symptoms and slowing the progress of the disease utilizing dietary changes and exercise regimens. We will be covering this topic in detail in the coming weeks, and have briefly touched on it in the past as well  (see our discussion about plant-based nutrition here and our quick plant-based meals tutorial, with several preparable in less than 15 minutes, here)  To learn more about this diet as well, with several witnesses testifying about its benefits for cancer and other chronic diseases, readers may remember our video of the hearing on plant-forward nutrition and its role in improving outcomes for aging populations.  

Proper nutrition is heavily complemented by proper exercise and activity levels.  While recommendations vary, most Americans are too sendentary, and this is a leading secondary cause of cancer (it is within the top five causes – though this might be secondary to obesity and poor diet, which is most important – unless one smokes tobacco, drinks alcohol, or lives next to a pollution-emitting plant).  So, lifestyle changes for those that are at risk include increasing physical activity levels, such as by walking regularly, and the adoption of a plant-based diet to help the body build back its own immune system and fight the disease itself.  Since limited physical activity can lead to obesity when coupled with a poor diet that includes a lot of processed foods, increased physical activity can greatly help reduce the contributing factors for those with predispositions to diseases caused by being in the area of the World Trade Center after its collapse.  That has greatly increased the chances of suffering from these illnesses.  While such changes may not always be a cure, they improve quality of life by a large degree in most situations, including when they are combined with supplements for greater nutrition, as recommended in our discussion with the Orthomolecular physician.  There are many doctors who have stated over the years that these changes can slow the progression and terminal nature of these conditions. They can also help the therapies offered by mainstream medicine to become more effective, specifically they were discussing intravenous Vitamin C plus conventional treatments, and most doctors who used these therapies did also improve the diet, though their main change was to eliminate anything processed, though meat itself was kept, usually in the form of lean chicken or fish (red meat is also usually eschewed by Orthomolecular practitioners).  However, newer research has shown that the ideal diet for a person is plant-based, and that it is the nutrition provided by varied plants in the diet that are the greatest factor in lifespan and life quality.  Conventional medicine alone does not have the best outcomes and usually offers very little to help these patients. See chart below for a comparison of outcomes with cancer therapies that include immunotherapy as commonly understood as one of the available conventional options, though it can cause less damage than radiation or chemo.  Its outcomes are slightly better than radiation and chemotherapy, but the most effective treatment is a combination of these conventional therapies with IVC :

Chart showing results of various cancer treatments, including using nutritional therapies such as vitamins. Image Credit – Orthomolecular News Service

The text below contains inspiring speeches by the mayor, Staten Island and NYC representatives, and other politicians about the importance of Remembrance and really not forgetting by taking care of those who were lost and those that remain: 

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TLC Debuts “Operation Free Transportation” Documentary About Drivers and Officers Who Helped During and After 9/11

Video Sheds Light on a Little-Known Effort that Saw TLC and the Driver Community Come Together to Provide Thousands of Free Trips to Families and Responders

New York, NY – As New York City observes the 25^th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) has released a documentary video highlighting memories of the day from TLC staff and drivers, and how they quickly came together to provide thousands of free trips to New Yorkers in need over the following weeks.

Until now, much of the history and stories discussed in the video have been known only to those who participated. At the time of the attacks, TLC headquarters was located at 40 Rector Street, a few blocks south of the World Trade Center. Like thousands who worked and lived in Lower Manhattan, TLC employees arriving at work witnessed the attacks and the collapse of the towers firsthand, including some who were seriously injured.

Officers from TLC’s Uniformed Service Bureau, based in the outer boroughs, were initially dispatched to the Twin Towers to assist in the first response, but were ordered to turn back following the collapse of the second tower. Many then redeployed to the city’s bridges to control vehicle traffic and provide aid to people fleeing the devastation.

Over the next two days, drivers contacted the agency wanting to help the city, so TLC quickly organized “Operation Free Transportation”—a series of emergency taxi stands across the city where victim family members, responders, and blood donors could obtain free trips from volunteer taxi, car service, and commuter van drivers.

More than 1,000 drivers—including six members from the Sikh community who are interviewed in the video—provided thousands of free trips, many to family members gathering at the Family Relief Center at Pier 94 in the hopes of learning information about their missing loved ones and accessing resources. The operation was so successful that the agency launched a similar effort after American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in Belle Harbor on November 12, 2001.

“In the days after September 11, more than a thousand taxi drivers gave their time and their earnings to help grieving families, blood donors and first responders get where they needed to go,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Many were immigrants who showed up for this city in a moment of unimaginable pain. Twenty-five years later, we’re making sure their service and sacrifice are remembered as part of New York’s story.”

“This was an extraordinary moment when TLC and the driver community came together to do whatever we could to ease the suffering and help responders,” said Taxi & Limousine Chair and Commissioner Midori Valdivia. “We wanted to preserve this history, which speaks volumes about the character of the city and its drivers, who paid for the free trips out of their own pockets because of their intense desire to help the city and country they love. Many of them were immigrants who were under intense scrutiny at the time, some even faced hostility, and yet that was no deterrent. I have no doubt that today’s drivers would be just as eager to help.”

Some of the drivers and officers in the video tell harrowing and heartbreaking stories. On the day of the attacks, an FBI agent commandeered Partap Singh’s taxi and ordered him to take him to Ground Zero. They arrived in the area just as the second tower was collapsing.

The agency later created a commemorative medallion and presented the volunteer drivers with certificates in a recognition ceremony the following year that received little attention, and one of the goals of the video is to ensure that their history, along with TLC’s contributions, is kept alive.

“I would like to thank Commissioner Valdivia and the TLC for taking the time to ensure we ‘never forget’ not just the victims and first responders, but the little-known role the TLC and its volunteer drivers played, lending helping hands at such a tragic and surreal time for our city and our nation,” said Matthew Daus, who served as TLC’s Chair and Commissioner from 2001 to 2010. “So many New Yorkers, the TLC’s industries, and other city agencies were trying to figure out how to help, and at the time, TLC decided to do what we do best – provide transportation. TLC drivers stepped up to help the victims’ families, blood donors, emergency workers, and others in need with free rides during such stressful times.”

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS’ WORLD TRADE CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CENTER HONORS THE 25^TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 AND THE CARE ITS CLINICS HAVE PROVIDED TO NEARLY 22,000 SURVIVORS

More than 18,000 survivors are active members of NYC Health + Hospitals World Trade Center Environmental Health Center, which continues to enroll approximately 120 new members each month

Twenty-five years since the 9/11 attack, many of the youngest survivors — children and young adults exposed in 2001 — are now confronting long-term health effects

Enrollment remains open; eligible survivors are encouraged to apply for coverage through the federal World Trade Center Health Program

Left to Right: Survivor Lisa B. Jones, WTC EHC Medical Director Dr. Leigh Wilson, former WTC EHC Medical Director Dr. Joan Reibman, WTC EHC Mental Health Director Dr. Rebecca Rosen, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue CEO Dr. Eric Wei, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga, NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Medical Officer of Clinical Services and Population Health Dr. Ted Long, 9/11 Survivors Steering Committee Co-Chair Kimberly Flynn, WTC EHC Executive Director Scott VanOrden

(New York, NY – September 11, 2026) – Today, twenty-five years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, NYC Health + Hospitals’ World Trade Center Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC) honored the lives lost that day and the enduring need to care for survivors who are still living with the health effects of what they were exposed to. Since the WTC EHC program opened in 2011, nearly 22,000 survivors have received care at the program’s three clinic locations at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur. The WTC EHC, which is one of the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program’s eight Clinical Centers of Excellence, provides dedicated care for the New Yorkers who lived, worked, went to school, or were passing through Lower Manhattan and were exposed to toxic contaminants on the day of the attack and in the months that followed. More than 18,000 survivors remain active members, and the WTC EHC enrolls approximately 120 new members each month — including many people who were children and young adults on 9/11 and are only now confronting the long-term effects of their exposure.

“As we honor the lives of those lost 25 years ago, we reflect on the enduring need to care for survivors who carry the lingering trauma of the horrific terror attacks on September 11, 2001,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Nearly 22,000 survivors of 9/11 have received medical and mental health services through the WTC Environmental Health Center, and we commend the hardworking professionals at NYC Health + Hospitals who remain focused on treating the long-term health effects impacting so many New Yorkers.”

“Nearly 22,000 New Yorkers receive care for PTSD, cancer, and other afflictions through the WTC Environmental Health Center, and more than a hundred new patients are seen by the clinics every month,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “The importance of this program cannot be understated, as so many New Yorkers, including many young adults who survived 9/11 as children, continue to require help. We are grateful to the NYC Health + Hospitals professionals who carry this heavy responsibility and work every day to confront the long-term impacts of that tragic day.”

“9/11 changed our city and the lives of thousands of New Yorkers forever, and 25 years since that awful day we continue to provide care to survivors living with the long-term effects of their exposure,” said Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “Many of the survivors we see today were children in 2001 — in classrooms, in apartments, on a bus passing through — and are only now developing consequences of what they lived through. Our dedicated providers at the World Trade Center Environmental Health Center are here to care for survivors, and to help anyone who is unsure about whether they qualify for care. If that could be you, please come in and get seen. We are here to help whenever you need.”

“The legacy of this program is our promise to care for survivors throughout their lives, regardless of when the need emerges,” said Scott Van Orden, Executive Director of NYC Health + Hospitals’ WTC Environmental Health Center. “Some of our members came to us in the first years after the attacks. Others are reaching out for the first time this month, 25 years later. Our work is to make sure that there is always expert, robust care for them at the moment they need it, for as long as they need it.”

“Over the past three years, I have had the privilege of working alongside the talented and dedicated WTC Environmental Health Center team to provide care for thousands of survivors affected by the 9/11 disaster,” said Dr. Leigh Wilson, Medical Director of NYC Health + Hospitals’ WTC Environmental Health Center. “What we see in our clinics has changed over the years. That is why annual monitoring matters — it is how we find things early and stay ahead of them. I encourage anyone in need of care to come see us, and look forward to many more years of caring for the New York City survivor community.”

The WTC EHC provides physical and mental health treatment and surveillance for eligible WTC survivors — local New York City residents, workers, students, and commuters exposed to toxic contaminants — in accordance with the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, which established the federal WTC Health Program. First responders also receive services through the WTC Health Program at multiple CCEs in the New York metropolitan area.

Once an individual is admitted to the WTC Health Program by the federal government, they are assigned to a Clinical Center of Excellence for ongoing care, including the public hospital system’s three clinics at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, Elmhurst, and Gouverneur. Members receive initial health evaluations and WTC-condition certification, annual monitoring exams, and connection to clinical specialists — including ear, nose and throat (ENT) physicians, pulmonologists, and gastroenterologists. The Center also provides behavioral health support from clinical psychologists and facilitated peer support groups, along with care management that includes insurance authorizations, claims support, and benefits coordination.

A fact sheet with additional information about the WTC EHC — including who qualifies, the services members receive, member demographics, most commonly treated conditions, and the full list of certified WTC-related health conditions — is available here.

The CDC estimates that roughly 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants, risk of physical injury, and physically and emotionally stressful conditions in the days, weeks, and months following the attacks.

Behind these numbers are the unique experiences of 9/11 survivors whose lives were forever changed that day. For many, the health effects surfaced years — sometimes decades — later.

Three WTC EHC members shared their stories and what their care has meant to them:

“September 11, 2001, changed the course of my life, leaving an impact that continues to shape my journey today,” said Frances D. Aquino, a patient at the Bellevue/32^nd Street clinic who was traveling through downtown Manhattan at the time of the attacks, when her bus got stuck in the Battery Park tunnel.  “The fear, uncertainty, and physical demands of treatment brought me back to the strength and perseverance I had to draw on while surviving the aftermath of 9/11. Acceptance into the WTC Health Program and September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, together with the compassionate guidance of my care management team and mental health professionals, has provided meaningful support and affirmed that the lasting health consequences of that day have not been forgotten. As we approach the 25th anniversary, I share my story to honor those we lost, remember those who survived, and highlight the enduring resilience of the 9/11 community.”

William Taye, a patient at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur, was 48 years old and working as a vice president in money market sales on the 84th floor of the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001. William first came to the WTC EHC at Gouverneur in 2010, after receiving a call asking whether he would like to register. He was later diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and, in 2022, received a lung transplant.

“I noticed I was getting out of breath just coming up the subway stairs, and by 2018 I was on supplemental oxygen 100% of the time,” said William. “My WTC EHC doctor is the best doctor in the world — she was the one who caught the pressure building up between my heart and lung, and she sent me to the specialists who recommended a transplant. I had to be pushed in a wheelchair just to get into the building for the testing, only 200 yards. I agreed to the surgery on November 2, and by November 12 they told me they had a match for me. The follow-up care with WTC doctors and care management has been great, and my quality of life is so much better. I don’t know if I would be alive without the WTC EHC.”

Lisa B. Jones was working a temporary position at a major financial institution in Lower Manhattan on 9/11, shortly before she planned to return to university. Over the next decade and a half her health declined, and in 2016 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, lupus, and fibromyalgia within six weeks. A fellow breast cancer survivor encouraged her to register with the WTC Health Program.

“When 9/11 happened, I felt, because I survived, I would ‘figure it out’ on my own,” said Lisa, a patient at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “Despite my conditions, I really did not want to deal with anything 9/11-related. My long-buried feelings of anxiety, anger, and sadness concerning those that I lost and the effects on life as I knew it were palpable. Fortunately, I decided that it was time to finally face these issues and register with the program. I also found answers to other medical conditions that I was experiencing but did not understand. I am deeply appreciative of the entire staff, from reception to my providers, for the compassionate and necessary services provided to me and so many others.”

The WTC EHC covers both physical and mental health conditions related to 9/11. Services are provided at no out of pocket cost and are confidential. To determine your eligibility to receive care at NYC Health + Hospitals’ World Trade Center Environmental Health Center, please visit the CDC’s 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program website to review documentation requirements, including geographic and exposure criteria, and apply for healthcare coverage.

For eligibility and enrollment information, please call toll free 1-888-982-4748 or visit www.cdc.gov/wtc.

To contact the NYC Health + Hospitals WTC Environmental Health Center clinics, please call 877-982-0107 or visit the WTC Environmental Health Center webpage.

“In the immediate aftermath of the terror attacks on 9/11, as victims were receiving care in these hospitals, NYC Health + Hospitals’ staff and volunteers lined up for hours to donate blood for those injured. For 25 years since, NYC Health + Hospitals has continued showing up and caring for the 9/11 community of survivors as one of the World Trade Center Clinical Centers of Excellence,” said U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY). “New Yorkers who lived, worked, went to school, or were passing through Lower Manhattan in the days, weeks, and months following the terror attacks on 9/11 were unknowingly exposed to toxic air that would later cause serious illnesses. I am proud to have led the creation of the World Trade Center program through the James Zadroga Act to care for these afflicted individuals. But Congress’ work is only meaningful due to the dedicated providers who care for these victims. I am deeply grateful to every member of NYC Health + Hospitals’ World Trade Center Environmental Health Center for providing the highest quality care for New Yorkers and living up to the commitment to Never Forget.”

“Twenty-five years after 9/11, NYC Health + Hospitals’ World Trade Center Environmental Health Center is still doing some of the most vital work in our city: caring for the survivors who continue to live with 9/11-related illnesses decades after the attacks,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “I’m grateful to Bellevue Hospital CEO Dr. Eric Wei and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Amit Uppal, as well as the entire World Trade Center Environmental Health Center workforce for their unwavering commitment to their fellow New Yorkers. We will never forget their service.”

“Twenty-five years after September 11th, survivors are still confronting illnesses from their exposure, and 120 new members are enrolling every month. Bellevue’s World Trade Center Environmental Health Center provides nearly 22,000 survivors with world-class, specialized care and standing by the 9/11 community. I grew up watching my mom, former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, fight to create and protect the World Trade Center Health Program and Victim Compensation Fund, said Council Member Virginia Maloney. “I’m proud to carry that work forward with legislation requiring the City to educate New Yorkers about these programs and directly notify them about eligibility and deadlines. Bellevue has built an extraordinary system of care. Bellevue has built an extraordinary system of care. Our job now is to make sure every New Yorker who may be eligible knows that care is here for them.”

From Councilmember Hanks:

Twenty-five years ago, our city and our nation were forever changed.

On September 11, 2001, we witnessed unimaginable tragedy, but we also witnessed extraordinary courage. We remember the innocent lives taken too soon, the first responders who ran toward danger when others were running to safety, and the families who have carried the weight of that loss for a quarter of a century.

For Staten Island, September 11 is deeply personal. Our borough suffered a devastating loss, leaving empty seats at dinner tables, children without parents, and families whose lives would never be the same. We lost firefighters, police officers, first responders, and neighbors who simply went to work that morning and never came home.

And our loss did not end on September 11. In the years since, we have lost far too many first responders, recovery workers, and others to 9/11-related illnesses caused by their exposure in the aftermath of the attacks. Many more continue to live with serious health conditions today. They, too, are part of the story of September 11, and we must never stop honoring their sacrifice or standing with their families.

But September 11 also reminds us of who we can be for one another. In our darkest moment, New Yorkers showed tremendous compassion, courage, and unity. Strangers helped strangers. Communities came together. And Staten Islanders stood shoulder to shoulder to care for grieving families and one another.

As we mark this solemn 25th anniversary, may we honor those we lost not only through remembrance, but through how we live—with kindness, service, courage, and a commitment to one another.

Twenty-five years have passed, but we have not forgotten. We will never forget.

With remembrance and hope,

Council Member Kamillah M. Hanks

Majority Whip

49th Council District

From Municipal Arts Society:

Today, we pause to commemorate the lives lost because of the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001. We hold in our hearts the families, friends, and loved ones who continue to carry this loss, as well as the first responders, recovery workers, volunteers, and countless others who served our city with extraordinary courage and compassion.

More than two decades later, the effects of that day continue to be felt. Our city has changed, and yet New Yorkers have repeatedly demonstrated the resilience, generosity, and determination that define this place. People came together across neighborhoods and differences to support one another and to begin the long work of healing.

For many of us, the Tribute in Light offers a solemn annual reminder to stop and reflect. In the months following the attacks, MAS and Creative Time collaborated to build a tribute to a loss we could not yet articulate. Conceptualized by John Bennett, Gustavo Bonevardi, Richard Nash Gould, Julian Laverdiere, Paul Marantz, and Paul Myoda, the Tribute in Light still shines each September, now stewarded by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Its beams call us to remember the past while looking toward the future we share.

From Congresswoman Malliotakis:

As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, I urge 9/11 responders, survivors, victims’ families and others eligible for assistance through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) or the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) who are experiencing difficulties with their claims to contact my office for help.

25 years after the worst terror attack on American soil, we must continue to stand with our first responders and 9/11 community, — not just on September 11, but every day. We have had success helping constituents cut through bureaucratic red tape, appeal claims, and expedite benefits they have earned. Our office will continue doing everything we can to ensure the heroes, survivors and families of 9/11 are never forgotten and receive the support they deserve.

Examples of cases in which our office has provided assistance include:

1. Appeal Approved — A former first responder who worked in the World Trade Center area was denied benefits through the World Trade Center Health Program due to an administrative error. After filing an appeal and waiting nearly a year without a resolution, the constituent contacted our office. We worked to address the issue and help move the appeal forward. The appeal was ultimately approved, allowing the constituent to receive the health benefits they were entitled to.

2. Significant VCF Award — A constituent reached out to our office after experiencing significant delays in receiving a 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund award following the death of a family member. The claim had remained unresolved for an extended period due to outstanding documentation and administrative requirements. Our office worked with the appropriate agencies and the VCF to help resolve the remaining issues and expedite the claim, allowing the family to receive the full award.

3. Significant VCF Award — A constituent who had worked in the World Trade Center area reached out after struggling to resolve a 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund claim following a serious 9/11-related illness. The delay placed additional financial strain on the constituent and their family during a difficult period. Our office worked with the VCF to address the outstanding issues and help move the claim forward. The constituent ultimately received a significant compensation award.

4. Estate Award — A constituent reached out after a 9/11-related estate award became delayed during the required legal review. Although the Victim Compensation Fund award had already been determined, the family was unable to access the funds until the necessary court process was completed. Our office worked with the appropriate parties to help move the matter forward and resolve the outstanding requirements. The necessary approval was ultimately secured, allowing the estate to receive the award and bringing the matter to a close.

5. Significant VCF Award — A constituent reached out after experiencing significant delays in receiving a 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund award following the death of a parent. The family was facing significant financial hardship and needed the claim resolved as quickly as possible. Our office worked with the VCF and the appropriate parties to address the remaining requirements and expedite the process. After repeated follow-ups, the necessary approval was secured, allowing the constituent to receive the full award.

Helping members of our 9/11 community access the benefits and support they have earned is one way we can continue to honor the promises made in the aftermath of September 11. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties with a VCF claim or needs assistance communicating with the Fund, please contact my office at (718) 568-2870 or through the services tab on my website here.

GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCES RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING 25th ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 TERROR ATTACKS

New York, NY – On the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led a group of her colleagues in announcing a Senate resolution honoring the victims, first responders, and survivors of 9/11, as well as the service members who defended the United States in the aftermath. The resolution pays tribute to the 2,977 individuals killed in Lower Manhattan, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It also honors the 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers, 8 emergency medical technicians and paramedics, and 55 military personnel at the Pentagon who sacrificed their lives responding to the attacks, alongside the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93. The resolution also recognizes the charitable foundations, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, faith-based organizations, and community groups that have faithfully served survivors and families of victims.

“Twenty-five years ago, our nation experienced tragedy, but in our darkest hour, we saw the extraordinary courage and resilience of the American people,” said Senator Gillibrand. “As we mark 25 years since September 11, 2001, we owe it to the victims, the heroes who ran into the burning towers, and the military personnel who answered the call to serve to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten. This resolution reaffirms our commitment to standing with survivors and their families, supporting the programs that continue to provide critical care, and vowing to never forget.” 

Throughout her time in Congress, Senator Gillibrand has continuously advocated for 9/11 first responders and survivors, championing major federal efforts to secure permanent healthcare and financial compensation. She led the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 to establish the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and reopen the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). She also spearheaded the passage of long-term protections for the 9/11 community with the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act to extend the WTCHP through 2090, co-authored the Never Forget the Heroes Act of 2019 to permanently fund the VCF, and led legislative fixes to stabilize the WTCHP’s budget formula, ensuring that over 140,000 enrolled responders and survivors maintain access to specialized care and benefits.

In addition to Senator Gillibrand, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Mark Warner (D-VA).

The resolution can be read HERE.

Banner Image: Tribute in Light. Image Credit – Olga Subach