WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-NY-04), alongside a bipartisan coalition of her colleagues in the House and Senate, urged Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand coverage of cancer screening for 9/11 responders and survivors under the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).

In the letter to HHS, the bipartisan group pushed for the WTCHP to provide enhanced screenings for prostate and skin cancers, which 9/11 responders and survivors face a heightened risk of developing. Enhanced health screening can detect these cancers early, when they are most treatable, and improve survival rates.

"Currently, the World Trade Center Health Program follows the U.S. Preventative Task Force recommendations on cancer screening, without making exceptions for the 9/11 population and the increased cancer risks they face. In light of this circumstance, we hope you will consider providing enhanced cancer screenings for program participants, specifically for prostate and skin cancers," the bipartisan group wrote to Secretary Kennedy.

"For the 9/11 community, studies have shown that the incidence of prostate cancer is 19% to 40% greater for rescue and recovery workers than for the general population," the lawmakers continued. "Studies have shown that 9/11 responders have a 9% to 43% increased risk for melanoma, linked to their toxic exposures."

"Given the increased rates of melanoma skin cancer in the 9/11 population, adding annual skin cancer screening should be included as a covered service. We strongly urge you to review these two cancer screening tests and subsequently add them to the WTCHP program requirements," the lawmakers concluded.

Rep. Gillen has strongly advocated to protect funding for the WTCHP including by reintroducing the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act. She was also a co-sponsor of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum Act which passed the House of Representatives and provided federal support for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. She also recently introduced legislation to rename a post office in Oceanside, NY in honor of NYPD Detective Luis G. Alvarez who passed away from cancer linked to his search and rescue work at ground zero following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

In addition to Rep. Gillen, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-2), Rob Bresnahan (R-PA-8), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-9), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5), Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-NJ-7), Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26), Nick LaLota (R-NY-1), Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23), George Latimer (D-NY-16), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), John Mannion (D-NY-22), Grace Meng (D-NY-6), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Pat Ryan (D-NY-18), Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-3), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15).

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