WTC DC TO RC LETTERS CALLEHAN WHITMAN ETC. WARD DOCTOROFF KENNY

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

IdnitEd States Renate WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3204

For Immediate Release: Contact: Peter Kauffmann February 11,2002 Phone: 212-688-9559

Senator Clinton Outlines 5-Point Plan to Address Ground Zero Air Quality Concerns New York, NY - At a Senate field hearing in lower Manhattan today. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton outlined a 5-pointplan to address Groimd Zero air quality concerns.

The plan includes; ■ Passage of legislation to establish a permanent health monitoring system at disaster sites; ■ Funding for long-term health registry to monitor Ground Zero workers and those who live, go to school, and work in lower Manhattan; ■ Establishment of a World Trade Center indoor air program to provide more information about the testing, monitoring, and cleaning of office buildings, residences, and schools in lower Manhattan; ■ Creation of a World Trade Center site clean air initiative to reduce harmful emissions from construction equipment; ■ Application of lessons learned about air quality at Ground Zero to our homeland security plan, so that the nation can be better prepared to deal with potential future disasters.

Today’s hearing was conducted by Senator Joseph Lieberman and Senator Clinton who are members of the Senate Subcommittee on Clear Air, Wetlands, and Climate Change. Senator Lieberman is chairman of this subcommittee.

“In the months following the tragic events of September 11, many of dedicated relief workers have been working and living at or around Ground Zero, and there are more and more concerns that these men and women have been exposed to hazards from the air,” Senator Lieberman said. “We must determine what, if any, risks they now face, and ensure that they receive the aid they deserve. We also should ask ourselves how we responded to these terrible events, and how might we be better prepared if we are ever faced with a similar tragedy in the future.”

Senator Clinton said, “Unfortunately, we do not really know what our firefighters, police officers, emergency workers and others have been exposed to as a result of their courageous efforts at Ground Zero, but it is our responsibility to find those answers. In order to stem any long-term health problems these workers may be suffering, we must take steps no”''. address these concerns. And we must ensure that the public is protected and given soimd information about environmental quality around Groimd Zci >. We must also find out what health risks may exist for any individuals and families who live, work or go to school near Ground Zero. I am hopeful that this hearing will help shed light on these important issues.”

[witness list attached]

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