John,
On September 11, 2001, our country experienced one of the greatest tragedies in American history.
Thousands of lives were lost, including 343 firefighters. The brave firefighters who ran into the towers on that tragic day are heroes, and their work and their lives should be remembered and honored. In the wake of 9/11, I led the effort to add the American flag to each of our OCFA fire engines as a rolling reminder of 9/11 and the sacrifices made — one of the first efforts of its kind made across the country.
As a second-generation firefighter, I know that every day on the job is risky. We’re running inside burning buildings, putting out fires, responding to disasters, and saving lives.
However, what may come as a surprise to many, is that cancer is the number one killer of firefighters. Three-fourths of firefighters in Orange County and across the country are contracting cancer at an alarming rate.
A startling statistic: After 9/11, more firefighters who were exposed to toxins and carcinogens while working on The Pile during rescue and recovery efforts have died from cancer than those who perished during the attacks.
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, which provides critical funding to the families of people who died or were injured on 9/11, is running out.
It’s up to Congress to make sure 9/11 responders and their families get the proper healthcare, benefits, and funding for their critical needs. Sign on now to join me in calling on Congress to act now for 9/11 responders:
Thank you,
Joe
