A001527
Mr. Kenneth L. Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs
Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Main Building, Room 3140
950 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20530
Mr. Zwick,
Attached please find the comments written by
who lost her husband on September 11, 2001.
She asked that I send them to your department for consideration and
posting on the comments website. I understand that any personal
reference wil be removed when the comments are posted.
I appreciate your efforts to respect the victims privacy.
Submitted on behalf of
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Individual Comment
Far Hills, NJ
The U.S. Department of Justice is creating the Victims' Compensation Fund, a plan for
victims to receive money without resorting ot lawsuits. Rules admministered by the
Special Master must be closely Scrutinized. My group recommends that several
principles be applied.
- 1.) Victims' estates should not have their compensation from the Fund reduced by
the amount of contributions given to us by private individuals, groups, charities or
employers, or the amounts promised ot us in the future. This relief is a short-term
band-aid. The award of the Victims' Compensation Fund could provide our
families with financial support beyond ehat short-term aid will provide.
- 2.) We are concerned about the possible use of collateral sources to offset any
amount awarded form the Fund. To deduct it would penalize the families of
victims who tried to protect their loved ones, which would not be the right
message to send to the general public.
- 3.) We as victims be able to prove extensive proof of damages, and not be
limited in the amount received. Each of us rightfully deserves the opportunity to
provide evidence though our own testimony and those of expert witnesses before
a hearing officer. For many of us, the right to be heard is crucial and a valuable
part of our healing. We request an approach similar to that used in personal
injury actions, with economic damages calculated for the loss of earnings and work
related benefits over the remaining lifespan of our lost family member over the
course of his or her lifetime, through retirement. We strongly oppose any cap
placed on the financial portion of our recovery. We individually need to make
a decision as to whether the fund will provide us with adequate compensation.
- 4.) Lack of economic means should not foreclose such an opportunity. All
reasonable expert fees should be paid out by the Master Fund.
- 5.) Please ensure that each victim's compensation is consistant with what would be
recovered through trial. If we waive our rights sue those who may be named
responsible or capable of preventing this wrongdoing, then we must be adequately
compensated. Victims need to be able to accurately asses if the Victims'
Compensation Fund is the best approach for them.
- 6.) Awards should not be "capped" based on class status of the victim.
- 7.) There should not be a limitation on the type of injuries to be compensated. We
are concerned that we, and our children, may suffer from real and devastating
harm not immediately apparent after the attacks of Sept. 11. Our children will be
learning the events of Sept. 11 for the rest of their lives, readingabout it in
texts as well as writing papers. This has touched them in a way more intimate
than a text will ever describe, or a college professor could ever grade. How are
children deal with the events of Sept. 11th in the future is uncertain, and
possible future needs must be taken into consideration.
Finally, I think that with careful consideration, the Department of Justice could
provide our families with a viable option for receiving substantial bebefits quickly.
Good Morning , my name is and my very best friend since I was 15 years old, my one true love, and husband of 12 years, was a victim in the World Trade Center 1. I am representing a group of vistims' families who meet at , as well as every other family affected by the events of September 11th. We are a mix of spouses, parents, siblings and fiances from a variety of religous and cultural backgrounds. All of us are devastated by the events of september 11th and our personal loss is immeasurable.
My husband and I relocated here from the Philadelphia area for his opportunity to work
for . Both our families are spread between Philly and North Carolina and would love more than anything to be here to help my children and I. Unfortunatley, they can only spend weekends with me, and I am relying on my community to help with the multiple needs of my new daily life.
I am a mother of four sons, age , , and years, and a daughter who is . My sixth child is due in March. I have been faced, like every family of Sept. 11 victims, with frustrating application processes for financial relief. Like others, I spend hours photocopying documents, notarizing my signature, and spending enormous time on the
telephone. My attention is also focused on the varitey of age appropriate reactions of each
one of my children to their father's sudden death. What intensifies their feelings is the
security in being in public places. They are still afraid to go to sleep, fearful that I will also be taken from them.
I wonder how I, as well as every other single parent, will manage our children without
our spouses. and I bragged of our "divide and conquer" parenting plan. I cheered at ice hockey and soccer, while he was coaching football. I was reading books to younger children while he helped with homework or gave baths. Because I cannot be on two fields at the same time, I must delegate another parent to root my sons on. I pray that no one is injured, and was lucky enough to be present at the hockey game when my son was knocked unconscious. How, too, will I do the fun family spur of the moment activities like going to the movies, sledding, or hiking and bike riding? I cannot imagine safely handling 4 boys, a toddler and a newborn on the beach next summer. I will forever need to hire help or ask my family to meet me places where I will need more eyes and hands to manage my crew. My neighbors will be with my children when I am hospitalized during the baby's birth. I pray my mother can get here from her home two hours away in time to take part in the birth. Every family who has lost a member on Sept.11 is faced with these and even more difficult dilemmasof everyday life. There are many victims here today. Talk to each one, and listen to our stories.
I want to ask for help from our state and federal goverments. We, as individuals in a
large group deeply and personally affected by terrorism, need to bre closely evaluated,
because our needs are diverse and immensely complicated. Financial, Physical,
psychological, social and spiritual realms deserve special attention. Many victims worry
about medical insurance in our near future. The cost, even at COBRA rates, is
exorbitant, and will drain our resources quickly.
The "Victims of Terrorism Tax relief Bill" is currently in the House of Representatives,
and my group is focused on passins this legislation. It would provide victims of
September 11th with a federal tax exemptiomn for the years of 2000 and 2001, inlcudes
payroll taxes and has estate tax benefits. The bill is very similar to a bill in place for
members of the armed forces who are killed in a war.
Why do we think we deserve this relief? The reasons are multiple.
- 1.) Our family memeber was murdered on unprotected American soil without threat of
war.
- 2.) This exepmtion and of refund is money that we paid for years. Please give
us the same entitlement as any soldier who is killed.
- 3.) To date, the federal government has not given victims any aid at all.
I thank you for considering my group's comments Please keep us in your hearts during
the holiday weeks ahead. To my fellow victims: We must not be defined by the terrorist
acts of violence, but through our commitment to our loved ones and to each other. We
have to believe that our lives have meaning and purpose.
Our countrymen have responded to us, the vistims, with outpourings of prayers,
kindnesses and generosity. I personally have received countless letters from Hawaii,
Washington State, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New york and other states,
from people I don't now Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Atheletes from football, soccer, ice
hockey, lacrosse, and baseball, and classrooms in various schools have hand made and
sent condolences letters to my children. All lettersare filled with prayers and hope for
tomorrow. These letters prove that the citizens of our United States care about our
financial failures and their response is in favor of our security. We victims need our
senators and representatives to support the legislation to assist us now. I know that our
country want to help each victim find a quote "new normal." Together we can rebuild
our future and preserve the memory of our loved ones. thank you for this opportunity to
speak.