Naples hosts celebration for 9/11 health program funding boost

Retired first responders and 9/11 advocates gathered in Naples to celebrate a significant development for the 9/11 community.

Legislation signed into law this past week ensures the World Trade Center Health Program will be fully funded for the next 15 years.

This funding secures access to care for those still living with illnesses linked to the attacks. More than 160,000 responders and survivors nationwide benefit from the program, which provides medical monitoring and treatment for 9/11-related cancers and chronic conditions.

Thousands of those enrolled live in Southwest Florida. Advocates emphasized the importance of early detection and continuous monitoring through the program, which they say has saved lives.

"There was a lot of relief in the air," said Nicholas Carpenter, president of the Retired Firefighters Club.

"No one likes to talk about how they got sick or that they're sick, but the facts are that you know, there's someone there helping us now, it is big deal to the men and women," Carpenter said. "These little bills that get passed that no one thinks about are big, they're big and there's a bunch of families in there tonight, that are going to sleep way better knowing that they could pay their bills because, you know, because we got fully funded."

Advocates in the area say the funding provides not just financial security, but peace of mind for families still dealing with the long-term effects of 9/11.