Blast Bush Decision Not To Reappoint 9/11 Health Czar; Praised for Dedication

Elected officials and 9/11 first-responder advocates July 8 protested the Bush administration's decision to not re-appoint Dr. John Howard to head the government office overseeing worker safety, offering their support for his research on 9/11 health effects.

DR. JOHN HOWARD: 'Created a moral responsibility.'

Dr. Howard had served as the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health until July 3, when he learned that he would not be re-appointed. Last week, U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler joined post-9/11 health-care advocates in blasting the decision during a press conference at the World Trade Center site. They said that Dr. Howard's 9/11 research was instrumental in securing government funding for medical treatment and monitoring for first-responders and residents.

'A Movement to Stop Care'

"There has been a whole movement to stop health care going to 9/11 heroes and heroines," Congresswoman Maloney said. "And the way they try to stop it is saying they're not sick. Dr. Howard supported the research and said they are sick because of 9/11, thereby creating the moral responsibility of our government to respond to their health-care needs."

The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James SHARING THE EVIDENCE: Former Paramedic Marvin Bethea, center, holds up all his medications for illnesses he believes are related to his 9/11 response work. Joining him are U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney, to his right, and Jerrold Nadler, who protested the recent dismissal of the 9/11 health czar, Dr. John Howard.

Lawmakers said Dr. Howard had drawn praise from both political parties and from labor advocates as well as members of the business community, proving his even-handedness. They added that the White House has not given a reason why Dr. Howard was not re-appointed.

"I'm certain that it was his dedication to his job that led to his firing," Congressman Nadler said. "President Bush is quick to use 9/11 as a photo opportunity; when it comes to taking action on 9/11 health issues, he consistently fails, and indeed he now fires the one administration officials who tried."

CDC Praises His Service

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which oversees NIOSH, issued a statement that did not give a reason for Dr. Howard's dismissal but praised his work.

"During his six years of service, Dr. Howard was very attentive in addressing the concerns and needs of NIOSH stakeholders and he has worked diligently on many challenging issues," it said. "He has agreed to a short-term assignment as senior advisor to the CDC director to assure that World Trade Center activities are effectively managed during the transition."

Dr. Christine Branched, the current NIOSH Associate Director, is serving as a temporary replacement.

The city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has established that 9/11 responders were exposed to toxins such as asbestos, benzene, pulverized concrete and particles of human remains that can lead and have led to respiratory illnesses including asthma and various cancers. It has also said that the responders suffer from high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder.

'He Told the Truth'

During the press conference, former Paramedic Marvin Bethea, who responded to the 9/11 attacks, displayed all the medications he has to take as a result of his work at Ground Zero, and said that he met with Dr. Howard on several occasions about 9/11 health issues.

Mr. Bethea, who is also the president of Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes, said that when he first learned of Dr. Howard's termination, "I was incensed, because he told the truth."

John Feal, the founder of the 9/11 first-responder advocacy group the Feal Good Foundation, took off his left shoe in front of television cameras, revealing a foot that is missing all five toes, which he said was a result of his work in the rescue and recovery efforts.

"I've been hiding this for seven years," he said, adding that the only way to establish that 9/11 caused massive health problems was through concrete research. "You cannot see the illnesses in these men and women behind me because it doesn't show up visually."

He added, "I implore our new President - I don't implore anything out of this President - I implore Senator [Barack] Obama or [John] McCain to make 9/11 health care a top priority and an issue when you step into office on Jan. 21."

Congressman Nadler and Congresswoman Maloney have sent letters to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Julie Gerberding demanding a meeting to discuss why Dr. Howard was not re-appointed to a second term as NIOSH Director.

"At a minimum," Congressman Nadler said, "his firing deserves an explanation."