In late June 2023, after tireless support and advocacy from your Association, the 9/11 Notice Act (A75B/S2946B) unanimously passed in the New York State Senate (62-0) and Assembly (146-0). As of writing this, it is on the way to Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk for signature.
In 2001 and 2002, Verizon, AT&T and Empire City Subway, from which a large number of our members retired, had significant operations in Lower Manhattan.
The 1.2 million square foot Verizon Building at 140 West Street was just a stone’s throw from 5 World Trade Center; another massive 820,000 square foot office complex and switching station, at 375 Pearl Street, was also walking distance from the site of the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Sadly, many of our fellow retirees have illnesses and health issues stemming directly from their work in the toxic exposure zones. Our many members are among the civilian workers called in on 9/11 to restore essential communications.
Under this legislation, businesses and institutions will be required to notify their employees or past employees who were there of their eligibility to register for free 9/11 healthcare and compensation authorized by Congress. This includes Verizon, AT&T, Empire City Subway and countless telecommunications or engineering consulting firms that provided staff or services.
This is a non-adversarial program that will cost companies little more than a first-class stamp and envelope. Its focus is to educate and inform.
The efforts by our organization and its partners have earned major media coverage in the Fortune Magazine, PBS, New York Post, New York Daily News, USA Today, and many more.
Like the firefighters and police, telecommunications workers in manholes, inside residential and commercial buildings, and even within the World Financial Center and World Trade Center were told by the EPA that the air was safe. We know now that that was woefully false – the air was toxic.
Without telecommunications employees’ work, New York City first responders would have been in the dark without communication. Our workforce was among the unsung heroes of 9/11 who deserve proper recognition after putting their health and safety on the line.
Thousands of our fellow retirees and company staff were assigned to work within the toxic exposure zone of Lower Manhattan and Northern Brooklyn between September 2001 and May 2002.
Each will now be notified that they qualify to enroll in the World Trade Center Health Program and Victim’s Compensation Fund. Additionally, families of victims who have passed away may qualify for wrongful death compensation under the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
BellTel Retirees Chairman Tommy Steed said, “Land lines were dead, cell phones had no signals, high-speed data could not transmit and federal, state, and regional first responders lacked a reliable means to connect. It was our members who were called in on Day 1 to restore service in Lower Manhattan and allow for the reopening of the financial markets. What we didn’t plan for was being exposed to the world’s largest and most toxic burn pit.”
Currently, only about 10% of the 400,000 civilians in the exposure zone have registered for the World Trade Center Health Program or Victim Compensation Fund, in comparison to over 85% of first responders. The 9/11 Notice Act is expected to result in a drastic increase in civilian registrations.
The World Trade Center Health Program provides no-cost life-saving healthcare and prescription coverage, and the Victim Compensation Fund provides potential reimbursement of previously paid out-of-pocket medical expenses related to their exposure.
To register for 9/11 healthcare or compensation, a member of the 9/11 community must gather documentation of their presence in the exposure zone during the allowable time period, and detail their potential 9/11-related illness, or that of a deceased loved one. This process can be time consuming, so the earlier our members organize their information, the faster they will get the coverage they deserve.
The legislation was introduced by State Senator Brian Kavanagh (D-Dist. 27 Manhattan) and Assemblyman Nader Sayegh (D-Dist. 90 Yonkers).
Assemblyman Sayegh said, “It is nearly 22 years after the terrorist attacks and an utter lack of awareness about the benefits and eligibility for the federal World Trade Center Health Program and 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund means we needed to act. The 9/11 Notice Act means that forgotten victims, including downtown office workers, doormen, construction workers, students, teachers, retail workers, delivery people, must be notified of their eligibility status by their ex-employer. No one should be left to suffer from 9/11-related illness and be burdened with overwhelming medical bills when the federal resources are FREE and available to help them.”
Senator Kavanagh said, “There are many workers, including first responders, retail employees, cleanup workers, office workers, and others who were in the vicinity of the World Trade Center during and after the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks who may be experiencing WTC related illnesses and may be eligible for financial and healthcare benefits, but may not realize that they are. Our bill seeks to remedy this by enlisting employers of those who worked in the area between 9/11 and July 31, 2002 to notify each person of their potential eligibility for these programs. I thank Assemblyman Nader Sayegh for championing this bill in the Assembly and all those who advocated for its passage.”
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