Long Island delegation laments lack of 9/11 health plan fix

WASHINGTON — Long Island House members who voted Friday to pass a short term spending bill to avert a federal government shutdown expressed disappointment that the bill ultimately omitted a hard-fought provision that would have guaranteed funding for the World Trade Center Health Program.

The Republican-controlled U.S. House on Friday voted 366-44 to pass a bill to fund the government through March 14, but the 118-page bill was a slimmed-down version of a more than 1,000-page bill negotiated earlier in the week. The first bill included a legislative fix to ensure funding for the 9/11 health program, which is expected to hit a projected shortfall in 2027.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) had negotiated inclusion of the 9/11 funding, building on legislation sponsored by Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). But the funding was one of a host of programs ultimately stripped from the final short term spending package after President-elect Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk raised objections over the size of the first bill.

Garbarino told Newsday after the vote that while he was "frustrated by the absence of 9/11 health funding and other important provisions that were included in the initial [spending package], I voted for the final package to keep the government open for the next three months, prevent a lapse in government resources, and ensure that our troops, Border Patrol agents, and tens of thousands of federal employees living on Long Island would not have to go without pay over the holidays."

The World Trade Center Health Program was established in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and provides care for more than 132,000 firefighters, police and others who were working or living in lower Manhattan and developed illnesses from the toxins at Ground Zero. The program also provides health care for those impacted by the attacks on the Pentagon and the crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Outgoing Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park), who lost his reelection bid against Democrat Laura Curran, said in a phone interview that he supported the lean version of the spending bill in an effort to keep the government open, but was disappointed the 9/11 provision was omitted.

"I voted for it because I think keeping this government open is critically important," D’Esposito said, noting that he would not have supported the bill if the 9/11 funding was stripped but not other projects.

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), who voted in favor of the short term spending bill on Friday, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) did not cast a vote on the spending bill, telling Newsday in a statement he was out of town due to a long-standing family obligation but would have voted on the short term effort to avoid a shutdown.

Schumer endorsed the new plan in a statement but lamented that it "does not include everything Democrats fought for."

He added, "there are major victories in this bill for American families," citing emergency funding "for communities battered by natural disasters," and keeping "the government open with no draconian cuts."

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.