Former TV host Jon Stewart called for the White House to reconsider a proposal to reorganize programs for WTC related health conditions.

On March 5, Stewart joined New York lawmakers in a press conference outside the Capitol. Stewart and the lawmakers called for President Trump and the White House to withdraw a proposal that would reorganize relief programs for World Trade Center (WTC) related health conditions.

In 2015, Stewart helped first responders and New York lawmakers push for funding for the World Trade Center Health Program, which was approved later that year. His emotional investment in the program pushed him to address the White House with lawmakers in attempt to protect the program.

“He’s a guy that has supported the first responders and veterans, he talks about how much he loves them,” Stewart said of President Trump during the press conference. “It’s a very simple thing. I’m sure he could put a stop to it this afternoon if he wanted to. And so I would urge him to do so.”

According to The Hill, the Trump administration is considering a reorganization of relief programs for WTC related health conditions. The reorganization would move the World Trade Center Health Program from oversight by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). In a statement, a representative said the administration is not intending to change the services or funding of the World Trade Center Health Program, they are simply trying to reorganize the program to fit under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) because it is more research-focused.

The World Trade Center Health Program provides health care for first responders with WTC related health conditions such as cancer. Exposure to materials at Ground Zero has left first responders with a variety of illnesses and conditions which can be costly and emotionally draining. For WTC related health conditions, members of the World Trade Center Health Program are not required to pay anything as diagnosis and treatment are covered by the program.

WTC related health conditions include cancers, traumatic injury, respiratory disorders, digestive disorders, mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder, musculoskeletal disorders, and more. Cancers typically covered by the World Trade Center Health Program include lymphoid tissue cancers, stomach cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer, soft tissue cancer, bone cancer, mesothelioma, and more.

First responders, volunteers, and residents who were near Ground Zero during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath are eligible for relief under multiple government programs. As mentioned above, the World Trade Center Health Program provides health care for first responders. Another program intended to benefit a wider range of victims is the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. The Fund provides compensation for various WTC related health conditions.

Claims under government relief programs can be complex and burdensome with required paperwork and strict deadlines. Individuals with WTC related health conditions who are eligible for compensation under the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund or the World Trade Center Health Program can seek legal help from experienced professionals to ensure maximum compensation.