By Dominic Genetti
Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Ill.
NEW YORK — New York lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives are hoping their second effort with a bipartisan bill regarding 9/11 is a successful one.
Led by Republican U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino, the group of two additional Republicans and six Democrats backing U.S. House Bill 10361 is aiming to get federal taxpayer dollars to payback New York state and New York City pension systems that went on to cover 9/11 police, firefighters, first responders and other city employees who suffered disabilities as a result of the September 11 attacks. As for those who died, those same pension funds made payments to the families of the fallen and the bill wants those expenses covered too.
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The bill was introduced Monday and was sent to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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To put it clearly, in New York City alone on Sept. 11, 2001 when two planes were hijacked by terrorists and flown into the World Trade Center, thousands of people died. The tragic events of the day were declared a national disaster and because of that distinction the federal government and its agencies became lead all efforts moving forward. Therefore any payouts made by city and-or state agencies is what the lawmakers argue is eligible for reimbursement from the federal government.
Lawmakers are trying to get that federal reimbursement money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, better known as FEMA.
“We lost nearly 3,000 Americans that day, but no one knew that we’d lose thousands more in the aftermath to 9/11-related illnesses. It’s an unimaginable truth and one that only amplifies the horror of these attacks,” Garbarino said in a 2024 statement when he first tried to move the effort forward. That bill later failed and was never called to committee or subcommittee.
The pension system was reimbursed by FEMA in 2002 when the agency paid "$290 million for unanticipated costs of the payment of death and disability claims that resulted (from) the 9/11 attacks,” according to a congressional memorandum issued in 2023. But lawmakers say the grand total of all these payouts has increased over the past two decades and the estimated 9/11-related pension costs have totaled about $3.4 billion.
Subtracting the $290 million already paid means FEMA would owe $3.1 billion.
“Twenty-three years have passed since the 9/11 attacks, but we continue to carry the burden of that terrible day. I will never forget the moment when I went down to the World Trade Center,” fellow New York Democratic U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler said in a statement when the first bill was pitched. Nadler is also a co-sponsor of the new bill. “The scene was absolutely horrific. We are still facing costs associated with the terrorist attacks, and the FDNY and NYPD pension systems are now facing shortfalls due to the unanticipated costs due to the deaths of the brave first responders who were killed that day. We must ensure that the families of these heroes continue to receive the benefits that they deserve.”
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