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George W. Bush Dear President Bush: In the aftermath of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center, the federal government failed to take proper action to (1) warn the public of the highly toxic hazards from the Ground Zero pollution; (2) enforce safety and health measures for the rescue and recovery workers and (3) conduct an effective testing and cleanup of the contamination that spread over much of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. This put innocent families who lived near the towers – and the conscientious workers and small business owners who restored New York City after the disaster – at risk of toxic exposures. Thousands of people today suffer respiratory illnesses and other health impacts from this exposure. Many have no health insurance and are not even receiving medical screening and diagnostic services, let alone proper medical care. Please take effective action to abate the environmental health crisis that now afflicts the survivors of the World Trade Center attack. The federal administration should: (1) provide medical care for rescue/recovery workers who were denied help by federal or state programs based on technical restrictions, and for uninsured or poorly insured residents, employees and small business owners suffering illness from 9/11 pollution exposure; (2) provide medical screening for residents, employees and small business owners exposed to 9/11 pollution; and (3) conduct effective testing and cleanup of indoor 9/11 contamination in the affected areas of Manhattan and Brooklyn. These people were on the front line of an attack on America. They deserve strong, effective action from their national government. Sincerely, |