Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C-Pulaski) today announced his legislation, A.8868, has been signed by Governor Kathy Hochul to provide death benefits to the family of New York State Department Environmental Conservation (DEC) Police Lt. Paul C. Adam, who died as a result of an illness sustained during his time at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Lt. Adam served 4½ years with the SUNY Police and 26 years with the DEC Police. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, Lt. Adam was sent to Ground Zero to assist in the recovery efforts. In 2012, he was given a terminal diagnosis of appendiceal peritoneal metastatic malignancy cancer. After numerous rounds of chemotherapy, multiple surgeries and many other procedures, Lt. Adam passed away on Sept. 8, 2015. In 2022, the Victim Compensation Fund determined that Lt. Adam’s cancer was likely caused by his time at Ground Zero. Soon after, Lt. Adam’s wife, Cynthia, received a letter from New York state declaring that Paul’s death had been reclassified as an “accidental line of duty death."

On multiple occasions, Mrs. Adam filed to receive death benefits for victims of the 2001 World Trade Center disaster, which were subsequently denied for being filed too late. Today’s signing of A.8868 deems Mrs. Adam’s application as timely, ensuring her family receives the benefits associated with victims of the 2001 World Trade Center disaster.

"The courageous first responders of 9/11 worked around the clock, in extremely dangerous and chaotic conditions to help our nation at its most vulnerable time. Paul was only 54 years old when he passed away, leaving behind a wife and two children. The benefits that will now be provided to his family are only a fraction of a debt that can never be fully repaid,” said Leader Barclay. “In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, no one knew the extent of what our emergency responders were being exposed to, or the long-term consequences it would have on their health. Lt. Adam was a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice and he will never be forgotten. We must honor those who exhibited immense selflessness and bravery in the face of danger."

Sept. 11, 2001, remains a day every American will remember for the rest of their lives; 2,977 precious lives were lost that tragic day at the hands of terrorists. Many of the individuals who held New York together were the brave first responders who rushed to the World Trade Center to save as many people as possible.