Rosie Interviews 9/11 First Responders On The View
Rosie hosted two chronically ill 9/11 rescue workers on the show today, one of whom burst into tears as she said:
"I am watching my friends every day dying ... every day they're dying...."
Present on the show was Dr. Jacqueline Moline, Medical Core Director of the WTC Medical Monitoring Program, who stated that at least half of the 50,000 WTC first responders now suffer chronic respiratory illness.
Even more shocking was the revelation that, until November 2006, there had been no Federal Funding provided to assist these 25,000 people, most of whom had volunteered their assistance in the aftermath of the World Trade Center collapses.
The deep sense of injustice felt by these heroes of 9/11 is made more poignant in the knowledge that, on September 18 2001, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman had stated:
"Given the scope of the tragedy from last week, I am glad to reassure the people of New York and Washington, D.C. that their air is safe to breath and their water is safe to drink..."
Dr. Moline said the current Federal funding of $17 million received last November was expected to run out by the end of the year, and she estimates that an ongoing $250 million per year will be required to cover treatment and monitoring.
Rosie ended the segment by saying: "Next year that's going to be a focus for me - helping the 9/11 responders."
In other news, Rosie said yesterday that she is leaving The View at the end of the year due to disagreements with her producers.
