Res. No. 1212 Title Resolution calling upon the Congress of the United States to support the Disaster Area Health and Environmental Monitoring Act of 2003 (S. 1279), which would protect the health and safety of first responders, workers, residents, school children and others in a disaster area. Body By Council Members Quinn, Foster, Perkins, Baez, Serrano, Barron, Clarke, Fidler, Gentile, Jackson, Nelson, Recchia, Sanders, Seabrook, Stewart and Vann Whereas, Data published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, and the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine confirms that there are continuing health consequences for the workers and volunteers who responded to the World Trade Center site; and Whereas, Currently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency does not have authority to conduct long-term monitoring of health impacts from a disaster; and Whereas, S. 1279, also known as the Disaster Area Health and Environmental Monitoring Act of 2003, a bill currently before Congress, would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to carry out a program for the protection, assessment, monitoring and study of the health and safety of people exposed to environmental and other hazards in a declared disaster area; and Whereas, Additionally, S. 1279 would ensure that people are informed about and protected against potential health consequences from a disaster, including the effects of harmful environmental exposures and mental health impacts; and Whereas, S. 1279 would also ensure that first responders, workers, residents, school children and other community members would be appropriately monitored and studied for both short- and long-term health impacts from exposures as a result of a disaster; and Whereas, Furthermore, S. 1279 would require that those experiencing such adverse health impacts receive health care referrals as needed and appropriate; and Whereas, S. 1279 would also ensure that information gathered from health monitoring and study efforts would be used to prevent and protect against similar health impacts in the future; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Congress of the United States to support the Disaster Area Health and Environmental Monitoring Act of 2003 (S. 1279), which would protect the health and safety of first responders, workers, residents, school children and others in a disaster area. CR LS #3144 11/13/03 |1013|