Garbarino's long efforts pay off on 9/11 health funding
Retired NYPD Det. and 9/11 responder Luis Alvarez testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in June 2019. Credit: Getty Images/Zach Gibson
When Rep. Andrew Garbarino campaigned to succeed former Rep. Pete King, King asked Garbarino to make a promise: Secure the future of the World Trade Center Health Program.
"It was probably the only thing I really insisted on. But it was like pushing an open door," King said. "He was all for it."
Garbarino kept that promise, as he tried secure permanent funding for 9/11 health care, while gaining power in Congress, now as chair of Homeland Security. Last month he reached a deal that fixes the program's funding formula, ensuring its future.
After two decades of advocacy, anyone suffering from 9/11-related illnesses will get the care they deserve for as long as they need it.
It wasn't long after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack that first responders and others who spent months breathing toxic air began suffering from the so-called World Trade Center cough. Related illnesses now include a host of cancers and other ailments. Thousands have died.
It might seem like providing health care to heroes would be a no-brainer. But it was a constant battle. Some saw 9/11 illnesses as a New York problem that shouldn't get federal funding. Others saw it along purely partisan lines, with Republicans opposed. In December 2010, as King and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fought to keep members in town, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act became the last bill passed before the Christmas recess.
Efforts continued when the program needed reauthorization and more funding. Every time, King sought Republican allies to push funds through. Every time, sickened first responders returned to Washington to beg, including a gaunt Luis Alvarez, who testified in 2019, weeks before the Oceanside resident and retired NYPD detective succumbed to cancer.
Then, Garbarino took the baton.
"There are men and women who are young ... who were in their early 20s, who are now dying in their 40s because of 9/11 disease," Garbarino said. "Their entire life has been stolen from them because of their willingness to show up that day or the days and weeks after. We owe it to them."
The Bayport Republican worked with advocates like 9/11 Health Watch executive director Ben Chevat and elected officials, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who, he said, "took it as personally as I did."
Garbarino noted that the ground shifted when Mike Johnson became House speaker. For Johnson, this was personal; his father was a firefighter who was severely injured on the job. But roadblocks continued. In 2022, Garbarino and Gillibrand nearly added $3 billion to an omnibus bill, but negotiations fell apart. In late 2024, fixes were in a larger budget bill, but objections from then President-elect Donald Trump and particularly Elon Musk about the broader spending and debt ceiling torpedoed it.
"We were this close to it," Garbarino recalled.
More recently, Garbarino garnered key support from Kentucky Rep. Brett Guthrie, who chairs Energy and Commerce and last year came to New York City to meet with firefighters and hear their stories.
But there were doubts. After rumors that policy items would be removed, Garbarino texted Johnson for assurances the 9/11 fix would stay. And he asked colleagues — particularly Reps. Nick LaLota, Tom Suozzi and Mike Lawler — to reach out to leadership for a last-minute push.
It worked.
Garbarino's not done in protecting the program's stability and staffing. But this moment will stay with him.
"I have a lot of colleagues who live to go out and throw bombs and say things to get likes on Twitter," Garbarino said. "We just saved countless lives by doing this. And that is worth more than any of the other stuff a thousand fold."
Columnist Randi F. Marshall's opinions are her own.
Randi Marshall is a member of the Newsday editorial board.
