In a recent editorial, you suggest that the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act should not be passed because people who are not truly hurt as a result of their work at Ground Zero may benefit (“Mike’s Sketchy Pitch,” Nov. 17).

In fact, the Zadroga bill provides significant safeguards against paying fraudulent claims.

For instance, workers will have to submit medical records, employment verification and other information in order to qualify for the Victims Compensation Fund, which will determine if the person’s injury resulted from working at Ground Zero.

This same process was handled with great skill by Kenneth Feinberg in the original Victim Compensation Fund.

There is strong scientific evidence that some people suffered breathing problems because of their work at Ground Zero.

The risk that a few bad apples may try to defraud the system is no reason to deprive the many more people who risked their health and their lives in defense of our nation from being properly compensated for their heroic actions.

Linda Gibbs

Deputy Mayor For Health and Human Services

Manhattan