Thursday, October 1, 2026
On September 11, 2001, the United States experienced the worst terrorist attacks in our history. Now, decades later, we continue to feel the aftershock of September 11th here on Long Island, across New York and beyond. As we approach the 25th anniversary, our nation has a solemn obligation to fulfill its promise to honor the 9/11 victims, first responders and their families and to hold the perpetrators accountable.
There are several ways to honor our heroes and the 9/11 community. This includes guaranteeing survivors will have access to the healthcare necessary to treat any conditions developed as a result of 9/11. In addition, we must also ensure that the families still grappling with the loss of the victims on 9/11 receive the compensation they’re owed from the governments who supported the terrorist groups responsible for the attacks. And finally, it is our duty to advocate for, and preserve, the memory of our fallen 9/11 first responders. In Congress, I promised to fight for the 9/11 community. I have and will continue to do that to ensure impacted families receive the justice, care and recognition they deserve.
In the aftermath of 9/11, first responders, survivors and volunteers working on the pile at Ground Zero began to develop cancers, respiratory illnesses and other debilitating conditions. It turned out these conditions were related to the exposure to toxins at Ground Zero. Leaders like John Feal and Joseph Zadroga emerged and fought for the creation of a health program to address these illnesses.
Through their tireless advocacy, the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) was established in 2011 and became a lifeline for thousands to receive care at no cost. This includes nearly 7,000 survivors in New York’s Fourth Congressional District. However, in the years that followed, the program faced ongoing funding shortages. That’s why I was proud to champion bipartisan legislation to right this wrong and fully fund the program. This year, the bill became law and provided long-sought certainty for the thousands of Americans who rely on the WTCHP.
This was a great victory indeed. However, the administration has disrupted the WTCHP by removing leadership, cutting staff and driving up wait times for criticalcare. I joined my New York colleagues from both sides of the aisle to demand the administration honor its duty to the 9/11 community and reverse course. No one in the 9/11 community should ever have to worry about accessing the healthcare that they require.
In addition to guaranteeing access to healthcare for 9/11 survivors, we must also ensure that the foreign governments who provided support to Al Qaeda pay what they owe to 9/11 victims’ families. In 2015, Congress established the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund to provide a path for victims’ families to obtain some justice and compensation from the perpetrators of terrorism.
While no amount of financial compensation can ever make up for the devastating losses of 9/11, this fund will provide some sense of justice and relief to the families. Families have sought justice from countries that supported Al-Qaeda, including Iran, in our court system, and many have already obtained judgments. However, these judgments remain unpaid. That is why I led a bipartisan effort urging President Trump to ensure that Iran pays the billions of dollars it owes to 9/11 families as part of any future agreement.
In addition, as we push to hold Iran accountable, I also introduced bipartisan legislation, cosponsored by Republican Representative Nicole Malliotakis, to shore up and provide targeted financing to ensure the Fund dependably delivers compensation to victims' families. For 25 years, this community has waited for justice for what they’ve endured, and I won’t stop fighting to make them whole.
Finally, we can never forget the victims nor fully repay the sacrifice of our 9/11 first responder heroes. We can honor their courage and selfless service and ensure their names are never forgotten. Thousands of brave first responders, including Detectives Luis Alvarez, Brian Lavin and Patrick Franzone from Nassau County, embodied the very best of our nation before their lives were tragically cut short by 9/11-related illnesses. To preserve their memory, I proudly passed bipartisan legislation to fund the 9/11 Memorial and Museum so that future generations can learn the history of that dark day.
To honor one of our local heroes, Detective Luis Alvarez, I recently introduced legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office in his hometown of Oceanside in his honor. Detective Alvarez served our nation long after 9/11 and before he died of cancer in 2019. He was a staunch advocate for 9/11 first respondersand moved Congress to permanently replenish the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. I’m proud to have the support of the entire New York delegation, Democrats and Republicans, behind this bill and to move it closer to passage, forever memorializing Detective Alvarez’s legacy.
As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we acknowledge the strides our nation has made to honor and care for the 9/11 community. However, there is still much more work to do. I won’t stop fighting to ensure our brave first responders and survivors have the care they need and deserve, that 9/11 families obtain justice and compensation from the financiers of the heinous attacks and that our lost 9/11 heroes are never forgotten.
Laura A. Gillen represents the 4th Congressional District.
A shortened version of Laura A. Gillen's op-ed was published in print.
