110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 201
To establish a grant program for individuals still suffering health
effects as a result of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City
and at the Pentagon.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 8, 2007
Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. MENENDEZ, and
Mr. LAUTENBERG) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
A BILL
To establish a grant program for individuals still suffering health
effects as a result of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City
and at the Pentagon.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `9/11 Heroes Health Improvement Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR 9/11-RELATED HEALTH CARE.
(a) In General- The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to
in this section as the `Secretary'), acting through the Director of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall award grants to eligible
entities to provide medical and mental health monitoring, tracking, and
treatment to individuals whose health has been directly impacted as a result
of the attacks on New York City and at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
(1) IN GENERAL- To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a),
an entity shall--
(i) that serves individuals described in subsection (a), including--
(I) entities providing baseline and follow-up screening, clinical
examinations, or long-term medical or mental health monitoring,
analysis, or treatment to such individuals such as the Mount Sinai
Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine of New York City,
the New York City Fire Department's Bureau of Health Services and
Counseling Services Unit, the New York City Police Foundation's
Project COPE, the Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance
of New York City, and the New York City Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene's World Trade Center Health Registry; and
(II) any entity performing medical and mental health monitoring,
tracking, or treatment of any individual that responded to the attacks
at the Pentagon; or
(ii) an entity not described in clause (i) that provides similar services
to the individuals described in such clause; and
(B) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(2) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS- Individuals eligible to receive assistance from
an entity under a grant under this section shall include firefighters,
police officers, paramedics, workers, volunteers, residents, students,
and any other individual who worked at Ground Zero, Fresh Kills, or the
Pentagon or who lived or worked in the vicinity of such areas, and whose
health has deteriorated as a result of the attacks described in subsection
(a), and who have been evaluated by a physician or mental health professional
for 9/11-related health conditions and need treatment for such conditions.
(c) Priority in Awarding Assistance- An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this section shall use amounts provided under such grant to
provide assistance to individuals in the following order of priority:
(1) Individuals who are not covered under health insurance coverage.
(2) Individuals who need health care assistance beyond what their health
insurance coverage provides.
(3) Individuals with insufficient health care insurance coverage.
(4) Individuals who are in need of health care coverage and who are not
described in any of paragraphs (1) through (3).
(d) Report- Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
and monthly thereafter, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention shall submit to the majority and minority leaders of the
Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the minority leader
of the House of Representatives, a report on the use of funds under this
section.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations-
(1) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section, $1,914,000,000 for fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
(2) STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION- The Secretary may use not to exceed $10,000,000
of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for staffing and administrative
expenses related to the implementation of this section.
(3) USE OF OTHER FUNDS- The Secretary may use any funds appropriated to
the Department of Health and Human Services, or any other funds specifically
designated, to carry out this section.
END
