NEW YORK. - A federal health official ruling late Friday afternoon declared that the James L. Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, 2010 will now include the treatment of 50 different types of cancer caused by the smoke and toxins of the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
Dr. John Howard, the head of the World Trade Center Health Program, said in a statement, "We recognize the serious impact cancer has had on responders, survivors and their loved ones...I accepted the S.T.A.C.'s (Science and Technology Advisory Committee) approaches in determining that certain types of cancer should be added to the list," according to Downtown Express.
The inclusion of the treatment of cancer in the $4.3 billion bill is still subjected to public comments and will not be official before this takes place, it can take as long as 30 days.
The bill, famously known as the Zadroga Act, will include treatment and compensation to rescue workers, volunteers, residents, passersby, as well as school children.
The bill's sponsor, Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, Democrat of New York told the New York Times "I think it's an important statement that the country's going to take care of the workers and people who are there to save the lives of the people of the city."
Initially, Dr. Howard did not favor the inclusion of cancer within the purview of the bill because of insufficient evidence linking the 9/11 fumes and toxins to causing cancer. The deadline for applying for the treatment is set to be 2016.
