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# Legislative Bulletin....................................................September 29, 2006

**Contents:**

> **H.R****es. 1031 ---** Requesting the Department of Health and Human
> Services to outline the Federal Government's responsibilities, taking
> into account the responsibilities and actions of the State and local
> governments, to support a program for medically monitoring and
> treating all individuals who were exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero
> on 9/11

H.Res. 1031 --- Requesting the Department of Health and Human Services
to outline the Federal Government's responsibilities, taking into
account the responsibilities and actions of the State and local
governments, to support a program for medically monitoring and treating
all individuals who were exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero on 9/11
--- *as introduced* (Fossella, R-NY)

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The resolution is scheduled for
consideration on Friday, September 29, 2006, under a motion to suspend
the rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 1031 would resolve that the House of
Representatives requests that the Department of Health and Human
Services:

-   "outline the Federal Government's responsibilities, taking into
    account the responsibilities and actions of the State and local
    governments, to support a program for medically monitoring and
    treating all individuals who were exposed to the toxins of Ground
    Zero on 9/11; and

-   "submit the outline to Congress and the President as quickly as
    practical."

The resolution lists a number of findings, including the following:

-   "as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center, towers one,
    two and seven collapsed releasing pulverized materials that are
    known to cause adverse health effects;

-   "the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program has documented 70
    percent of screened 9/11 responders have experienced respiratory
    problems following the attacks and 60 percent continue to experience
    respiratory problems;

-   "the New York City Fire Department and the World Trade Center
    Medical Monitoring Program have both documented extensive mental
    health effects on rescue and recovery workers;

-   "the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt, has
    appointed Dr. John Howard as the Federal coordinator of 9/11 health
    and has announced a task force on 9/11 health; and

-   "*there exists a joint responsibility* on the part of the Federal,
    State, and local governments serving affected populations to address
    the health needs of rescue and recovery workers who responded to
    Ground Zero on 9/11" (emphasis added).

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 1031 was introduced on
September 21, 2006, and was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, which took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: There is no CBO score available for
H.Res. 1031. Although the resolution authorizes no expenditures, it is
unclear what potential costs would be incurred by the federal government
upon the creation of a program for medically monitoring and treating all
individuals who were exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero on 9/11.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}**: No. However, the resolution encourages the
consideration of a new government program to medically monitor and treat
all individuals who were exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero on 9/11,
and explicitly states the federal government retains responsibility.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}**: No.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}:** There is no committee report
citing constitutional authority available for H.Res. 1031.

**[RSC Staff Contact:]{.underline}** Joelle Cannon;
<joelle.cannon@mail.house.gov>, (202) 226-0718.

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