NAPO WINS LEGISLATIVE VICTORY WITH PASSAGE OF DISASTER

AREA HEALTH ACT WITHIN THE PORT SECURITY LEGISLATION

To Read the Complete Language of the Bill, Please Click Here.

On September 30, the House and Senate adopted the “SAFE Port Act” conference report (H.R. 4954), which included the language of the “Disaster Area Health and Environmental Monitoring Act” under Title VII, Section 709. The bill was signed into Public Law 109-347 by the President on October 13.

Early in September, Senators George V. Voinovich and Hillary Rodham Clinton successfully offered the “Disaster Area Health and Environmental Monitoring Act” as an amendment to the Port Security Act. Intense lobbying by NAPO and other first responder groups proved successful in getting the provision past those negotiators who objected keeping it in the conference report.

The provision will allow the President to carry out a program in the event of future disasters that involves informing and protecting first responders against possible health impacts, monitoring them over the short and long term, providing medical referrals, and ensuring that this information is used to prevent or protect against future incidents. Future programs will be carried out through a cooperative agreement with a local medical institution or consortium of institutions that is located near the disaster area or any other area where groups of responders to the disaster live.

The future establishment of medical monitoring programs will ensure that first responders know if they have been exposed to harmful substances in the course of their duties. By allowing for the early detection and treatment of any potential physical or mental health impacts, monitoring programs will help save the lives by providing first responders with the information they need to prevent long-term illness or disability. This information will also assist in establishing new ways to prevent harmful exposures.

NAPO has been a primary supporter of the “The Disaster Area Health and Environmental Monitoring Act” since the beginning and we have fought to see it
included in the final conference report. NAPO thanks Senators Voinovich and Clinton for their efforts to ensure that this important legislation was passed into law.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact NAPO’s Legislative Assistant, Andy Mournighan, at (202) 842-4420 or amournighan@napo.org. Thank you for all of your help.