Lansing, Michigan
September 9, 2024
Thank you so much, Mayor, for your warm welcome to Lansing and for allowing me to participate in this beautify ceremony today. Thank you also to State Senator Anthony for your work and your reminder and, also, to State Senator Singh who I know and love. And to Chief Backus and Chief Sturdivant, thank you for your service, for your words, and for this moment of observance.
Again, as an outsider to Lansing I'm really grateful that you've all welcomed me, and there's nowhere I would actually rather be today than honoring the firefighters, the police officers, first responders and veterans of this community and of our country.
So, it's already been said, on September 11th, 2001, the world as we knew it changed. In one morning, we lost 2,977 of our fellow Americans, and over a dozen of those were Michiganders.
Today, we gather to mourn those we lost and to recognize the heroic contributions of thousands of Americans who answered the chaos and evil of that morning with unity and strength. As has already been said, those of us who are old enough will always remember where we were the exact moment that this happened. And, as has already been said, I know police officers and firefighters who were inspired to join the force because of what they saw then.
And when the whole world stood in stunned silence, shocked at the horror of that day... it was America's workers who got to work. Hundreds of firefighters—on and off-duty—raced to the scene when they heard the news. Nurses and doctors clocked in for one of the hardest days of their lives. Construction workers sprinted to Ground Zero and began pulling the dead out of the rubble. Hospitality workers provided food and comfort. Stagehands from around New York set up spotlights and equipment to power the 24/7 recovery mission.
And days after the attacks, pilots and flight crews were back in the air, even as they mourned the loss of their co-workers.
Because that's what America's workers do. They show up, and they keep on moving.
We now know that one in seven of those killed in the World Trade Center's collapse were rescue workers. And many who responded sustained longer-term injury, both physical and mental.
The toxins that they breathed were devastating. In fact, now more New York City firefighters have now died from 9-11-related illnesses than died on the day of attack. And we can't change the outcome of that fateful day. But we can decide, in its aftermath, how we care for the women and men who answered the call.
At the Department of Labor, we are doing our part. So, firefighters and emergency responders are entitled to benefits for injuries they sustain on the job. And under the Biden-Harris administration, we created a special claims unit for firefighters and other emergency responders so they can get their workers' compensation benefits that they have earned. And in the last 2 years alone, that unit has helped nearly 7,000 federal firefighters get the treatment and benefits they're entitled to, including many right here in Michigan.
We've also made changes so that the firefighters the benefits quickly when they make their claim. As a result, we are approving far more claims. Before, only about 30% of those claims were approved. And, now, it's over 90%. Firefighters and first responders who've done their job should not have to struggle to get the medical attention they need.
At the Department of Labor, we also have a Hall of Honor. It recognizes the people who have shaped our country and made unparalleled contributions to the world of labor. And, the Rescue Workers of 9/11 are part of that Hall of Honor, where they have their rightful place in labor history.
Now, for these men and women, we know that it was never about recognition. It was about duty. It was about true service to country. It was the highest form of patriotism—to not pause or hesitate—but as both the senator and as Neera have already said, it's about running toward disaster while the rest of us were running away from it. And, those of you here today know what it means to do that every single day.
Finally, I just want to mention that next week, we will induct labor unions into our Century of Service Honor Roll. It honors unions who have served this country and uplifted workers for at least 100 years. And both the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Fire Fighters are two of the nine unions that I will inducting into our Century of Honor. At the Department of Labor, and in the Biden-Harris administration, we stand with labor unions who are making our country strong every single day. It is difficult to capture in words just what the work of those first responders meant on 9/11.
But, I'm going to share a very quick story about a mother who went to Ground Zero with photos of her son. She handed that photo to first responders and asked them to look out for him. And when I hear that story, all I can think about is, "That's what any mother would do. In that moment of desperation, you're trying to hang on to something that gives you hope."
And, often times in those moments of deepest fear and terror—on the worst days of our live, when people need to heal and to recover—to have the peace of mind that someone is looking out for them, that is your strength, that is your power, that is what you do.
So, to the Lansing first responders here today, thank you so much for your service. Thank you for the many you inspire to join the service. And, let us never forget the horrors of that day and the honorable work that Americans like you and others do to make sure that we are a strong country and a country that protects ourselves and grows from tragedy.
Thank you all very much.