dojW000516.xml

dojW000516.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-11-24

Saturday, November 24, 2001 3:29 PM
Comments re: 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund

As the widow of a victim of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center, I cannot go along with your program as it now stands. As I understand the program, you are further punishing my deceased husband because he was a good provider and a responsible father by making sure he had life insurance so that his family would be taken care of.

Life insurance, pension funds and death benefit programs, which all people have an option to purchase and work hard to pay for, should not be included in "collateral sources" within the victims compensation fund. People make sacrifices to contribute to these additional benefits either through employee programs or personal plans and they should not be penalized by our government for their sacrifices and their desire to do what is best for their families. Who in our government or our society has the wisdom and/or the audacity to determine that the value of my husband's life is less than any other person present at the World Trade Center on that awful Tuesday morning, which has changed my family's life forever, simply because he took action to properly care for us? Who will explain to my young children as they grow up without him, that for all the flag-waving and use of the term hero, the American government and its citizens believed their father's life was worth less that that of another person because he took care of them?

I have already been disappointed by the lack of assistance received from the various organizations which have raised millions on behalf of the World Trade Center victims and their families. I hope that I will not also be disappointed by the response of my government and its citizens to help ALL the victims of the World Trade Center attack EQUALLY, as each of these people died equally, for and because of their country.

My suggestions -- do not include life insurance, pension funds and death benefit programs as collateral sources. Treat each victim equally -- as each has died equally. Finally, before any family of a victim should be expected to give up all their rights to sue the government and the airlines for this incredible breach in security and failure to meet their responsibilities to protect our loved ones and fellow Americans, there should be if not equal treatment for all at least a minimum guaranteed compensation amount that each family will be entitled to. In this way, the surviving family members, during this terrible time of devastation, can make an informed decision which will be in the best interest of their children and family.

Thank you.


Individual Comment
Englewood, NJ

2001-11-24