N.Y. to lose $125 million in 9/11 aid (AP) Updated: 2005-11-16 22:04
Congressional budget negotiators have decided to take
back $125 million in Sept. 11 aid from New York, which had fought to keep the
money to treat sick and injured ground zero workers, lawmakers said Tuesday.
President Bush, center, is flanked by Staten Island, N.Y.
congressman Vito Fosella, R-N.Y., right, and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.,
left, as he greets unidentified friends and family members of emergency
personnel who died during the September 11 terrorist attacks at the 9/11
Heroes Medal of Valor Award Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House,
Sept. 9, 2005. [AP] |
New York officials had sought for months to hold onto the funding, originally
meant to cover increased worker compensation costs stemming from the 2001 terror
attacks.
But a massive labor and health spending bill moving fitfully through
House-Senate negotiations would take back that funding, lawmakers said.
"It seems that despite our efforts the rescission will stand, very sadly, and
that is something of a promise broken," said Rep. Vito Fossella, R-N.Y. "We will
try hard in the coming weeks, but ultimately Congress will have something of a
black eye over this."
A spokeswoman for Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., said the congressman also had
been told New York would lose the funding in whatever compromise version of the
spending bill finally reaches the floor.
The tug-of-war over the $125 million began earlier this year when the White
House proposed taking the money back because the state had not yet spent it.
New York protested, saying the money was part of the $20 billion pledged by
President Bush to help rebuild after the Sept. 11 attacks. Health advocates said
the money is needed to treat current and future illnesses among ground zero
workers.
The Senate voted last month to let New York keep the $125 million, but the
House made no such move. House and Senate budget negotiators then decided to
take the money back, lawmakers and aides said.
Top New York fire officials recently lobbied Congress to keep the funding.
Fire and police officials say they worry that many people will develop long-term
lung and mental health problems from their time working on the burning pile of
toxic debris at ground zero and they want to use the money to help them.
Fossella and other New York officials hope they can win the money back in an
emergency spending measure, expected later this year, that would pay for
Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.
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