Business Leaders Ask for Aid in Treating WTC Sick

Shannon Weidemann

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The Partnership for New York City business group has drafted and signed a letter to Congress asking them for $283 million in aid to help pay for those affected by World Trade Center Illness in 2008. Thousands of people are estimated to have some sort of illness or disability related to the World Trade Center attack in 2001.

The letter asks Congress to appropriate $283 million for the 2008 fiscal year to treat thousands of people suffering from respiratory and psychological ailments. It cited the mayor's recommendations earlier this year to create a federal fund to compensate sick workers. Thousands of the workers are currently suing the city, alleging that their failure to protect them while working at the site caused or exacerbated their illnesses.

Bloomberg has estimated the cost of treating the sick or those who could become sick from exposure to trade center dust at $393 million a year. U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has offered legislation that would spend $1.9 billion for five years of treatment.

The letter was signed by the top executives from companies such as American Express and JP Morgan Chase.