Some Long Island residents who were among the 40,000 rescuers who flocked to Ground Zero in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks are less than excited about new health benefits laws.

Many say the measures Governor George Pataki (R-NY) signed Monday are too little, too late and fall short of being effective. Among the provisions, the new laws allow Ground Zero rescuers to reapply for Workers? Compensation and collect disability benefits if they develop illnesses years after they retire.

John Feal, of Nesconset, says he suffers from post-traumatic stress and respiratory problems. Feal says the $50 million compensation fund is not enough to pay the bills of all those eligible. Huntington resident John Sferazo, a former ironworker who says his lungs were damaged at Ground Zero, says the laws unfairly leave out certain workers in construction trades. Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R-NY) is also critical of the laws. He says the city will be forced to pay $500 million over 10 years for the benefits.