Lawmakers propose including Sept. 11 first responders who became ill on memorial

Sunday, January 28th 2007, 2:51 pm

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ The museum planned for ground zero should include a memorial to workers who died after becoming ill during recovery and cleanup of World Trade Center debris, two state lawmakers said Sunday.

Assemblyman Michael Gianaris, a Queens Democrat, and Republican Sen. Martin Golden of Brooklyn said they would introduce legislation in Albany to ensure those workers are recognized.

``We want to tell the story of the 9/11 workers who rushed here to help put the city back on its feet, who got sick because they did that, and now unfortunately many of them have died,'' Gianaris said at a news conference attended by ailing first responders and family members.

The Bush administration, along with state and local governments, have been criticized for being slow to acknowledge that many people developed debilitating illnesses from exposure to toxic materials at ground zero.

Golden said a full accounting of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks would have to include the effects on the health of first-responders and others who toiled at the trade center debris pile.

The event came a day after the funeral of police officer Cesar Borja, 58, who died of lung disease believed to have resulted from ground zero recovery activity.