UNIFORMED

FIRE DEPARTMENT, CITY OF NEW YORK

FIRE OFFICERS
LOCAL 854, INTERNATIONAL ASSN. OF FIREFIGHTERS, AFL-CIO

ASSOCIATION
225 B R O A D W A Y ∗ N E W Y O R K, N. Y. 10007 ∗ S U I T E 4 0 1
T E L: (212) 293 – 9300 ∗ F A X: (212) 292 – 1560

August 9, 2010

Reshma Saujani
PO Box 20245
244 East 3rd Street
New York, NY 10009

Dear Ms. Saujani,

I was shocked to read your recent statements about the James Zadroga 9 /11 Health and
Compensation Act. The bill, which will provide healthcare to rescue workers exposed to toxic
chemicals at Ground Zero, is of tremendous importance to all of the members of the Uniformed
Fire Officers Association and we are grateful to those who have been working hard to author and
pass this bill.

In the Wall Street Journal, you remarked, “It breaks my heart that the New York delegation, led
by Carolyn Maloney, hasn't been able to deliver for our city's 9/11 heroes. A real leader would
have passed this bill years ago.”

It’s disingenuous and offensive to point fingers at the New York Delegation and the legions of
police officers, firefighters, and responders who have worked tirelessly to pass this legislation.

What contributions have you made that qualify you to criticize their efforts? Rather than looking
to score political points off the obstacle we encountered when the bill didn’t pass last week, you
should be joining the scores of advocates in support of its future passage.

Your thoughtless politicking distracts from the real obstacles of providing health care for 9/11
responders. More than that, it appears to make a political gimmick of the courageous police
officers, firefighters, and emergency workers who risked their lives to rescue those trapped at
Ground Zero on September 11, 2001. These same people have been trying to get the treatment
that they so desperately need. I hope you are asking yourself what you can do now to help them.

AF F I L I A T E D W I T H 

NEW YORK STATE AFL-CIO

NEW YORK CITY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL AFL-CIO ∗ MARITIME PORT COUNCIL OF
GREATER NEW YORK & VICINITY ∗ UNION LABEL & SERVICE TRADES COUNCIL OF
GREATER NEW YORK & LONG ISLAND ∗ NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL
I feel that you should consider apologizing to all those whose work you have trivialized with
your comments.

I eagerly await it.

Alexander Hagan
President

AF F I L I A T E D W I T H 

NEW YORK STATE AFL-CIO

NEW YORK CITY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL AFL-CIO ∗ MARITIME PORT COUNCIL OF
GREATER NEW YORK & VICINITY ∗ UNION LABEL & SERVICE TRADES COUNCIL OF
GREATER NEW YORK & LONG ISLAND ∗ NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL