By Della Hasselle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — After delaying for several months, President Obama finally gave $4.9 million to the city to study cancer rates amongst 9/11 responders, the Daily News reported.
The money will go to the World Trade Center health registry, a $12 million program that, for the next two decades, will investigate the physical and mental health of people exposed during the Sept. 11 attacks.
The funds were originally slated to arrive last spring, but instead came at the end of the fiscal year in September, the News reported.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Rep. Carolyn Maloney and Rep. Jerrold Nadler claimed they had to complain to the federal government in order to get the money, according to the News.
"We think the federal government should be doing more to help those who responded to an attack on our country, but we’re deeply appreciative of everything our congressional delegation has been able to get done," Bloomberg told the News.
The White House said it audited the program before sending the money, but denied that it was delayed.
"The normal review process ran its course, and the funds were released on schedule," spokesman Kenneth Baer told the News.
