Dear Friend:

Today communities across our state and our nation are gathering - in a socially distant way - to commemorate the nineteenth anniversary of one of the darkest days in United States history. On September 11, 2001, we were attacked by terrorists who claimed the lives of 2,977 Americans, including 750 of our neighbors, friends and family members from New Jersey. 

We mark this solemn occasion not only by remembering those we lost, but also by recognizing the incredible displays of heroism and courage that followed. Without hesitation, our police, firefighters, and first responders rushed to Ground Zero to help those in need and remained there for months digging through the rubble. These heroes, like my own constituent James Zadroga of North Arlington, answered the call of duty by selflessly running towards the danger to help anyone they could. While Congress certainly did not respond as fast as we might have hoped, the federal government has now finally acted to provide for the health and well-being of the first responders who did their job.

I was proud to help lead, with my New Jersey and New York delegation colleagues, our efforts to pass the James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act into law last year. This bill provides sustainable compensation for 9/11 responders, survivors, and their families through 2090. With its passage, the federal government has finally made good on its promise to have the backs of these heroes, just as they had ours.

Please sign our thank you card to our heroic 9/11 first responders.

And our work to support them must continue. As America grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, our first responders continue to risk their lives to protect our communities. The failure to contain the pandemic has led to the deadliest year for first responders since 2001, with more than 82 firefighters and EMS personnel and 101 law enforcement officers falling in the line of duty nationwide. Unless we have focused leadership, these grim statistics will grow.

Working with Senator Cory Booker, we passed the bipartisan Safeguarding America’s First Responders Act, which ensures the families of first responders who fall to this terrible illness receive federal public safety officer benefits swiftly. But this is not enough. We need additional legislation that takes this threat seriously to support those on the front lines of the response.

Today, millions of Americans will reflect on the heroism we witnessed and the lessons we learned that terrible day 19 years ago, keeping the commitment we made that we would never forget. And we owe our first responders more than a debt of gratitude for their resolve to keep us safe. It is through their work, and the resolve of all Americans to stick together and look out for each other as we did almost two decades ago, that we will make it to the other side of this current national crisis.

Sincerely,

Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.