Senate Passes Bill Honoring 9/11 Heroes by Renaming the Queens Midtown Tunnel After First Responders

The New York State Senate today passed three bills honoring the state’s brave first responders and those who lost their lives from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. One bill (S415), sponsored by Senator Tom Croci (R-C-I-Reform, Sayville), would rename the Queens Midtown Tunnel the “New York State First Responders Tunnel” in honor of the sacrifices first responders made on 9/11 and the services they continue to perform every day.

Senator Croci, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs, said, “On September 11, 2001, New Yorkers raced through the Queens Midtown Tunnel and across the bridges and tunnels that connect to New York City in response to the attack on the World Trade Center.  They ran into danger to save lives – these the very best of New Yorkers. This is a distinct and fitting tribute to the bravery of all first responders, past and present, who serve us every day. Every time we travel through the New York State First Responders Tunnel, a living tribute to our first responders, we will be reminded of the bravery and sacrifices made by our great law enforcement, fire, emergency medical personnel and volunteers, all of whom risk their lives for us.”

Senator Michael Gianaris (D, Queens) said, “No one is more deserving of recognition than our first responders, who saved so many by rushing into harm's way during one of our nation's most challenging days. The Queens Midtown Tunnel was a pathway for the amazing acts of heroism that followed, and designating it ‘New York First Responders Tunnel’ will remind future generations of the dedication and courage of our heroes.”
 
The bill recognizes the brave men and women who responded to the terror attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001. When the hijacked planes struck the Twin Towers, firefighters, police officers and emergency workers raced towards the burning buildings and risked their lives to help save the innocent people who were inside. When the towers collapsed, many first responders were still inside the buildings, assisting civilians that were injured and trapped. 
 
An eyewitness, who was in one of the first vehicles stopped near the Queens Midtown Tunnel on 9/11 recalled “looking at the grim faces of emergency workers in passing vehicles as they rushed toward the disaster site.” He said they had to know “they were marching into hell” and that he often wondered which ones never came back. Of the nearly 3,000 victims killed in the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, more than 400 were first responders. 

By designating the Queens Midtown Tunnel as the New York First Responders Tunnel, the state pays tribute to the brave men and women who acted to help others that day, and the continued work first responders do to protect and serve communities throughout the state.

The Senate today also passed a bill (S230), sponsored by Senator Martin Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn), that designates the month of September as Firefighter, Police Officer, and Emergency Medical Technician Appreciation Month in New York to celebrate their efforts and sacrifices to vigilantly serve their communities, both on 9/11 and every day.

Another bill passed by the Senate (S6072), sponsored by Senator Kenneth LaValle (R-C-I, Port Jefferson), would commemorate all the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks by creating a distinctive commemorative license plate. Portions of the collected charges would be used for the purpose of providing scholarship money for the families of 9/11 victims.

The bills passed today build upon the Senate’s ongoing commitment to recognizing the sacrifices of those lost on 9/11 and the first responders who have died or continue to experience significant health issues as a result of the recovery efforts that followed. 

This year’s budget included $17.6 million to support 1,000 scholarships for the families and financial dependents of the victims who died or were severely and permanently disabled on 9/11 and the resulting rescue and recovery efforts. In addition, funding was included for the New York State Memorial Scholarship for Families of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers, and Emergency Medical Service Workers. Scholarships will be funded to help the children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers, and emergency medical service workers who died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. 

The bills will be sent to the Assembly.