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Wednesday, December 19, 2001 2:29 PM
Gays are grieving people, too.


December  19, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights
movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people
without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the
September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual
orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has
committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination.
  
As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you
apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle
of equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those
who lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children,
without regard to sexual orientation or marital status.  The State of New
York has already adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on
a showing of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that
anyone who shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities
and the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need."

Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks.
Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had
mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the
distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies.  An inclusive
policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an
important principle for other such funds.  In compensating victims, real
justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families -
impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with
dignity and equality. 

Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you
about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11
attacks have equal access to the relief fund.


Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Burbank, CA

 
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Thursday, December 20, 2001 9:59 PM
Equal Rights for All Victims


December  20, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights
movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people
without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the
September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual
orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has
committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination.
  
As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you
apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle
of equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those
who lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children,
without regard to sexual orientation or marital status.  The State of New
York has already adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on
a showing of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that
anyone who shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities
and the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need."

Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks.
Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had
mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the
distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies.  An inclusive
policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an
important principle for other such funds.  In compensating victims, real
justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families -
impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with
dignity and equality. 

Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you
about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11
attacks have equal access to the relief fund.


Sincerely,

Individual Comment
Seattle, WA
 
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Monday, November 26, 2001 4:14 PM


Dear Attorney General Ashcroft,


The deaths on September 11th were the result of an attack on America.
Please do not discriminate against the unmarried partners of September 11th
victims.  All unmarried partners, gay or straight, young and old and their
dependents should be eligible for compensation.




Individual Comment
San Francisco, CA
 
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Tuesday, March 12, 2002 4:59 PM
 9/11 Fund Screws Gays


I will assume the below comments made by Kenneth Feinberg on the March 10
airing of NBC's "Meet the Press" were political more then substantive.  In
other words domestic partners and their children will receive benefits, just
not in a high profile way.  If my assumption is correct, great.  If not, may
all your children, grand children, nieces and nephews turn out to be gay as
reminder from God about your subjective decision making.



Individual Comment

 
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              </elementText>
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              <text>
Wednesday, December 19, 2001 11:47 AM
Civil Rights


December  19, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights
movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people
without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the
September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual
orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has
committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination.
  
As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you
apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle
of equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those
who lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children,
without regard to sexual orientation or marital status.  The State of New
York has already adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on
a showing of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that
anyone who shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities
and the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need."

Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks.
Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had
mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the
distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies.  An inclusive
policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an
important principle for other such funds.  In compensating victims, real
justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families -
impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with
dignity and equality. 

Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you
about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11
attacks have equal access to the relief fund.


Sincerely,

Individual Comment
Eugene, OR

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                <text>yes</text>
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            <description>The source of this item.</description>
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            <description>The media type of this item.</description>
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                <text>no</text>
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          <element elementId="61">
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              <text>
Friday, December 21, 2001 12:59 PM
Help same sex partners of terrorist victims


Dear Mr. Zwick:

The very humane Fund for relatives of victims of the September 11 terrorist
attacks must include all relatives of all the victims.

This importantly should include the partners and children of same sex unions.
They suffer just as grievously for their deceased loved ones as do other
survivors, and their need for assistance is just as great.

Please do not give in to the importuning of callous homophobic groups and
individuals who would have the Department of Justice limit compensation to
survivors of heterosexual unions.  They are interested in a political victory,
not humane assistance.

This Fund is intended for humane purposes; it is not a political statement,
Mr. Zwick.

Sincerely,

Individual Comment

 
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        <name>911DA Item</name>
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              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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            <name>Copyright</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item.</description>
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                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
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            <name>Source</name>
            <description>The source of this item.</description>
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                <text>born-digital</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="57">
            <name>Media Type</name>
            <description>The media type of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359664">
                <text>email</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="59">
            <name>Created by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the author created this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
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                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="60">
            <name>Described by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author.</description>
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                <text>no</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="61">
            <name>Date Entered</name>
            <description>The date this item was entered into the archive.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359667">
                <text>2001-12-21</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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              <text>
Saturday, January 26, 2002 4:09 AM
Re: September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001

While I was not directly affected by the events of 09-11, I am still a
United States citizen and as such I vote in elections.  

I believe that the people complaining on this web site about victims
families being paid are the most selfish, greedy beings on this earth.
They have no concept of health care issues or what it's like to have
your world turned upside-down in a minute.

As a Medicare recipient, I know how little insurance covers the needs
that are highlighted in this instance.  Most companies pay only 45% or
less of psychological care; something many of the people left behind
will need. As a disabled person, not only can I not find doctors who
will even TAKE me as a patient because of my medical insurance, but I
can not afford to go to the doctor because of the level of coverage. 
Mental health care is expensive, not to mention the many other things a
family must consider when it has completely lost all its income.  

These heartless complaints about victims receiving money from the
government have no consideration for the children or the spouses left
behind.  They don't have children who must face complete loss.  I was
homeless for a year and a half while I waited for the government to
approve my disability.  What my son and I went through trying to survive
on $200 per month, no human being should have to face.  It scarred my
child terribly and five years later he still suffers from the
experience. 

Please, take care of these families.  Allow them to go forward with some
sense of dignity.  They have suffered loss that never should have taken
place.  As a government, we never should have sat idly by after the Cole
was attacked...but we never believed we'd be attacked at home.  Now we
know and we have paid the price in irreplaceable lives.  Our government
is at fault.  It's about time they took care of their citizens and all
the people that were affected by this tragedy.  

I am not rich.  I have very little, but I would not wish this type of
tragedy on anyone and I would not kick my brother to the curb in his
hour of need.  What we do to others, we do to ourselves.  Let us support
one another instead of stabbing them in the back like many of our
veterans of war were and still are.  We are the greatest nation in the
world.  It's about time we started taking care of our own.

Individual Comment
Virginia Beach, VA
 
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              <text>2002-01-26</text>
            </elementText>
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            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
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                <text>dojP000145.xml</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
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                <text>approved</text>
              </elementText>
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                <text>full</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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            <name>Posting</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item.</description>
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                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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            <description>Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item.</description>
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                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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            <description>The source of this item.</description>
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              </elementText>
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            <description>The media type of this item.</description>
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              </elementText>
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              </elementText>
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          <element elementId="61">
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            <description>The date this item was entered into the archive.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
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                <text>2002-01-26</text>
              </elementText>
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            <element elementId="50">
              <name>Title</name>
              <description>A name given to the resource</description>
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            <element elementId="41">
              <name>Description</name>
              <description>An account of the resource</description>
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      <description/>
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            <elementText elementTextId="359680">
              <text>
December 18, 2001

Kenneth L. Zwick
Director, Office of Management Programs
Civil Division 
U.S. Department of Justice
Main Building, Room 3140
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530

Dear Mr. Zwick,

I am writing in response to the Department's request for public comments regarding the
forthcoming regulations for implementing and administering the "September 11 Victim
Compensation Fund."

I strongly urge the Department to draft regulations that ensure compensation is available
to all victims of the attack, including partners and children of gay and lesbian victims.

To deny compensation to the survivors of gay and lesbian victims, based solely on sexual
orientation would be unconscionable.

Sincerely,

Individual Comment
Milwaukee, WI

 
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          <elementTextContainer>
            <elementText elementTextId="359681">
              <text>2001-12-18</text>
            </elementText>
          </elementTextContainer>
        </element>
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          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
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                <text>dojA005508.xml</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
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        <name>911DA Item</name>
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                <text>full</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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              <elementText elementTextId="359685">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="55">
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            <description>Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359686">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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            <name>Source</name>
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January 23,2002

Kenneth L. Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Main Building, Room 3140
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C.  20530

Dear Mr. Zwick:

A copy of The Department of Justice document, dated November 26, 2001 has been received in
the mail from a friend today.  In it, it names a special master to head the September 11
Compensation Program.

I learned that responses were due by January 22, 2002.  I beg you to consider my deep concerns before establishing "final rules" in this matter.

First, all United States citizens grieve the devastating loss of life in the four September 11 terrorist attacks on our country.  On the other hand, the huge payments to individual victims, if allowed to stand, can devastate citizen morale and even bankrupt our country. 

Let me explain:   I was a World War II combat infantryman, wounded while fighting German
troops.  I lost dozens of friends schoolmates.  In all, 292,000 American servicemen were killed in that one war.  I have spent thousands of my own dollars for specific operations brought on from my wounds, and I was proud to be able to do so!

Of the 1,150 World War II veterans on our museums' regular mailing list, hundreds have
suffered, and are to this day still suffering from physical and mental trauma from that war.  Many wounded servicemen from the Korean, Vietnam, and Desert Storm wars receive no government stipend whatsoever.  No one who was killed or who has survived those wars will ever receive anything like a 300,000 on up to 3 million dollar tax free settlement as is being proposed to all families and survivors of September 11.

Please explain what have those killed on September 11 done for America, that every veteran who has worn our unjiform in war or peace, and was wounded or killed not done?  How then, can 3,000 civilians be selected for these astronomical payments when others receive nothing?  The cost to the American taxpayers of several billion dollars to pay for this catastrophe, if not halted, can open the flood gates and lead our nation to bankruptcy.

What plan do we have in the event of a single jumbo jet (not unlike 9/11) that selects for a target a closed domed stadium with 50 or 60 thousand people in attendance?  In such a catastrophe would even 10  percent of the people survive?

Should payment by our government to those victims be less than those on September 11?  If not, hundreds of billions of dollars will be needed.  Can anyone predict such major catastrophies will not become a part of this countries' existence in the future?

My final appeal is for a few answers that I can give to the more than 1,000 WW II veterans and their spouses who will attend our State of Maine Veterans Memorial Day show.  Can veterans expect now any financial consideration for having kept the world free, and for the strife that they have suffered, and are still suffering?

What is the plan to avoid bankruptcy for our nation when larger groups are killed?  Will those victims' families also become instant millionaires--tax free?

My concern is real, and it is from the heart.  I plead your consideration and correction of this recent, major, error by Congress.  You and all thinking Americans must be wondering where do we go from here?

Correcting the mistakes in this compensation program now, can help reduce concerns of others
on how to correct a growing problem later.

I am forwarding a copy of this letter to the Main Congressional Delegation, and to President
Bush in hopes of gaining their interest and involvement.  I would appreciate a response from any of you concerning the points made, my concerns for America, and answers I can give to Maine WW II and other veterans at our events in May.

Sincerely yours,

Individual Comment
Bangor, Maine


CC:  President George W. Bush, Attorney Gen. John Ashcroft, Senator Susan Collins, Senator
Olympia Snowe, Representative John Baldacci, and Representative Thomas Allen

GC/bc

 
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Wednesday, December 19, 2001 8:23 PM
Justice for all


December  19, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights
movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people
without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the
September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual
orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has
committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination.
  
As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you
apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle
of equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those
who lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children,
without regard to sexual orientation or marital status.  The State of New
York has already adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on
a showing of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that
anyone who shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities
and the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need."

Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks.
Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had
mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the
distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies.  An inclusive
policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an
important principle for other such funds.  In compensating victims, real
justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families -
impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with
dignity and equality.

Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you
about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11
attacks have equal access to the relief fund.


Sincerely,

Individual Comment
Yonkers, NY 




 
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Wednesday, December 19, 2001 2:27 PM
Crisis Relief Benefits for Surviving Gay and Lesbian Partners


December  19, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights
movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people
without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the
September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual
orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has
committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination.
  
As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you
apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle
of equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those
who lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children,
without regard to sexual orientation or marital status.  The State of New
York has already adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on
a showing of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that
anyone who shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities
and the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need."

Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks.
Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had
mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the
distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies.  An inclusive
policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an
important principle for other such funds.  In compensating victims, real
justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families -
impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with
dignity and equality. 

Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you
about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11
attacks have equal access to the relief fund.


Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Ames, IA

 
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              <text>Sunday, February 03, 2002 5:13 PM
Justice help all terrorist victims


Dear Mr. Zwick:

The very humane Fund for relatives of victims of the September 11 terrorist
attacks must include all relatives of all the victims.

This importantly should include the partners and children of same sex unions.
They suffer just as grievously for their deceased loved ones as do other
survivors, and their need for assistance is just as great.

Please do not give in to the importuning of callous homophobic groups and
individuals who would have the Department of Justice limit compensation to
survivors of heterosexual unions.  They are interested in a political victory,
not humane assistance.

This Fund is intended for humane purposes; it is not a political statement,
Mr. Zwick.

Sincerely,

Individual Comment

 
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December 13, 2001


Special Master Kenneth R. Feinberg
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530

To Mr. Feinberg:

I am writing to urge you to ensure fair treatment for all surviving families of the tragedy on September 11th, 
including the children and families of low-wage workers and gay and lesbian families.

Under traditional rules based on lost wages, the survivors of a bond trader earning millions of dollars per
year might receive thousands of times as much compensation as the survivors of a dishwasher in one of the
restaurants destroyed. Justice requires looking far beyond the last paycheck to the inherent worth of all
those killed, so that a high minimum compensation level is set to lessen the disparities. It would be a double
blow to the survivors to first lose their loved one and then watch as most of the taxpayer money went to those
who were already well off in the first place.

The second major issue has to do with recognizing the legitimacy of gay and lesbian relationships and 
families. Gay and lesbian families are especially vulnerable when one partner is killed. Because the option of
marriage is unavailable, these families may find themselves in the traumatic predicament of having to prove
that their union is legitimate. Fortunately both the Red Cross and the State of New York have already 
announced that they will not discriminate against gay and lesbian families. The Department of Justice should
do the same.

Thank you for considering my comments. I look forward to hearing how you will act on these very important 
issues.

Sincerely,

Individual Comment
MARINA DEL REY, CA 

 
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Tuesday, March 19, 2002 7:21 AM
Gays compensation
 

There is no reason why anyone should be excluded from compensation with the possible exception of convicted felons.  

Individual Comment
Cincinnati, OH 


 
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              <text>Wednesday, December 26, 2001 6:11 PM
LGBT community deserves equal rights!


December  26, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights
movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people
without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the
September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual
orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has
committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination.
As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you
apply (at the very least) basic international human rights standards, and
the general principle of equality, by including among relatives eligible
for compensation those who lost their life partners, as well as de facto
parents or children, without regard to sexual orientation or marital
status.  The State of New York has already adopted such a policy, granting
compensation benefits "on a showing of mutual interdependence with the
victim, in recognition that anyone who shared with the victim living
expenses, day to day activities and the emotional bonds of family deserves
help in this time of need."

Many members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community were
killed in the September 11th attacks. Since then, surviving partners of
those killed have had mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the
local level in the distribution of relief funds by private and state
agencies. This is a crime!  How horrible it must be that these families had
to face not only such a loss, but also another "slap on the hand" from our
heterosexist society.  An inclusive policy on the part of the federal
government would help establish an important principle for other such
funds. In compensating victims, real justice will be served only when all
families - and all types of families - impacted by the human rights tragedy
of September 11 are treated with dignity and equality. Love has no
borders!  Gender, marital status, race, or religion; these families all
deserve equal compensation to that of heterosexual married
couples/families.   

Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you
about your efforts to ensure that ALL surviving victims of the September 11
attacks have equal access to the relief fund.


Individual Comment
Millbrae, Ca 


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Saturday, March 16, 2002 4:02 PM
your discriminatory actions

Your decision to exclude the families of gays and lesbians from any 
compensation from the tragedy of 9/11 is disgusting and anti-american.  Gay 
people are citizens, they and their families should be afforded the same 
treatment as any other citizen.   To do otherwise is absolutely wrong.  I 
sincerely hope you will reconsider your decisions and act in the spirit of 
liberty and JUSTICE for all Americans.  

Individual Comment
St. Louis, MO 




 
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          <name>September 11 Email: Date</name>
          <description>The local time and date when the message was written.</description>
          <elementTextContainer>
            <elementText elementTextId="359777">
              <text>2002-03-16</text>
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      </elementContainer>
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          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359778">
                <text>dojR001071.xml</text>
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        <name>911DA Item</name>
        <description>Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item.</description>
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            <name>Status</name>
            <description>The process status of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359779">
                <text>approved</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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          <element elementId="53">
            <name>Consent</name>
            <description>Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359780">
                <text>full</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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            <name>Posting</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359781">
                <text>yes</text>
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            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="55">
            <name>Copyright</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359782">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="56">
            <name>Source</name>
            <description>The source of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359783">
                <text>born-digital</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="57">
            <name>Media Type</name>
            <description>The media type of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359784">
                <text>email</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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          <element elementId="59">
            <name>Created by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the author created this item.</description>
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                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
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          <element elementId="60">
            <name>Described by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359786">
                <text>no</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="61">
            <name>Date Entered</name>
            <description>The date this item was entered into the archive.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359787">
                <text>2002-03-16</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
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            <element elementId="50">
              <name>Title</name>
              <description>A name given to the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="264506">
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              <name>Description</name>
              <description>An account of the resource</description>
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      <description/>
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          <description>The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end.</description>
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              <text>
Wednesday, December 19, 2001 1:10 AM
September 11 Victims Relief Fund


December  19, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,

I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights
movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people
without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the
September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual
orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has
committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination.
  
As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you
apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle
of equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those
who lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children,
without regard to sexual orientation or marital status.  The State of New
York has already adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on
a showing of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that
anyone who shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities
and the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need."

Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks.
Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had
mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the
distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies.  An inclusive
policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an
important principle for other such funds.  In compensating victims, real
justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families -
impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with
dignity and equality. 

Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you
about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11
attacks have equal access to the relief fund.


Sincerely,

Individual Comment
Los Altos, CA 

 
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          <name>September 11 Email: Date</name>
          <description>The local time and date when the message was written.</description>
          <elementTextContainer>
            <elementText elementTextId="359789">
              <text>2001-12-19</text>
            </elementText>
          </elementTextContainer>
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          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359790">
                <text>dojA002449.xml</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
      <elementSet elementSetId="4">
        <name>911DA Item</name>
        <description>Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item.</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="52">
            <name>Status</name>
            <description>The process status of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359791">
                <text>approved</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="53">
            <name>Consent</name>
            <description>Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359792">
                <text>full</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="54">
            <name>Posting</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359793">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="55">
            <name>Copyright</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359794">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="56">
            <name>Source</name>
            <description>The source of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359795">
                <text>born-digital</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="57">
            <name>Media Type</name>
            <description>The media type of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359796">
                <text>email</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="59">
            <name>Created by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the author created this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359797">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="60">
            <name>Described by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359798">
                <text>no</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="61">
            <name>Date Entered</name>
            <description>The date this item was entered into the archive.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359799">
                <text>2001-12-19</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
    </elementSetContainer>
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          <elementContainer>
            <element elementId="50">
              <name>Title</name>
              <description>A name given to the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="264506">
                  <text>Department of Justice Emails</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="41">
              <name>Description</name>
              <description>An account of the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
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                  <text>The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families.  These e-mails have been organized here by date.</text>
                </elementText>
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      </elementSetContainer>
    </collection>
    <itemType itemTypeId="18">
      <name>September 11 Email</name>
      <description/>
      <elementContainer>
        <element elementId="65">
          <name>September 11 Email: Body</name>
          <description>The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end.</description>
          <elementTextContainer>
            <elementText elementTextId="359800">
              <text>
                                                  

                                             9 January 2002

To our Elected Officials:

     In the immediate aftermath of the tragic attack of September 11th upon our nation,
Congress enacted the Victims' Compensation Fund of 2001 P.L. 107-42, to compensate
the relatives of the victims of that brutal attack. As you know, this Fund was enacted as 
part of a comprehensive package which bailed out the airlines industry and imposed
restrictions on the rights of the victims' relatives to sue the airlines in court. We implore 
upon you, as our elected officials, to demand changes to the interim rules issued by
Kenneth Feinberg, the Special Master. As it stands, Mr. Feinberg's self-imposed rules
fail to satisfy the letter or the spirit of the legislation which was enacted.

          Specifically, we request that you act on our behalf and demand the following 
changes to the interim rules:
     1. The arbitrary income limits imposed by the Special Master are not only unfair
     but also inconsistent with the letter and the spirit of the law. Those victims from
     the financial industry are specifically harmed by this limit. They were targeted and 
     murdered precisely because of the jobs they held, and where they worked-the World
     Trade Center, the Financial Capital of the world, the embodiment of financial success.
     Those who achieved such success should see that reflected in their awards. They
     personified American Business and commerce, democracy and freedom. We ask that
     you demand that Mr. Feinberg lift the arbitrary income limits so that each family can 
     be treated fairly, commensurate with the support they provided their families before
     their death.
     2. Mr. Feinberg has arbitrarily restricted the non-economic awards for pain and
     suffering, no matter what the extent of the pain and suffering. This is unacceptable.
     In the words of Rep. Peter King, "...every death is tragic, A murder is particularly
     tragic. But to have your loved one murdered in a burning building in full view of the 
     world - in a scene which will be repeated in the media for decades to come-is a 
     horror these families will never escape from... The Special Master cannot take it
     upon himself to restrict the rights of the families." Therefore, we request that the 
     interim rules be amended to more appropriately compensate the victims' families for
     the immeasurable pain and suffering endured by our loved ones.
              As Mayor Giuliani stated in his farewell address: "we have an obligation to the 
     people who did die... Their families need to be protected just as if they had been alive,
     financially and every other way that we can help and assist their families...There should
     be no compromise about that ever..."We request that the interim rules be amended and 
     redefined to the extent that income caps be removed when computing economic loss and 
     that compensation for pain and suffering more accurately reflect that horror which was 
     suffered. Justice demands no less.
   

                                             Sincerely,
          Individual Comment
                                             
                                             Bronx, NY 

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          </elementTextContainer>
        </element>
        <element elementId="66">
          <name>September 11 Email: Date</name>
          <description>The local time and date when the message was written.</description>
          <elementTextContainer>
            <elementText elementTextId="359801">
              <text>2002-01-31</text>
            </elementText>
          </elementTextContainer>
        </element>
      </elementContainer>
    </itemType>
    <elementSetContainer>
      <elementSet elementSetId="1">
        <name>Dublin Core</name>
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        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359802">
                <text>dojN002455.xml</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
      <elementSet elementSetId="4">
        <name>911DA Item</name>
        <description>Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item.</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="52">
            <name>Status</name>
            <description>The process status of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359803">
                <text>approved</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="53">
            <name>Consent</name>
            <description>Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359804">
                <text>full</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="54">
            <name>Posting</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359805">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="55">
            <name>Copyright</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359806">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="56">
            <name>Source</name>
            <description>The source of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359807">
                <text>born-digital</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="57">
            <name>Media Type</name>
            <description>The media type of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359808">
                <text>email</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="59">
            <name>Created by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the author created this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359809">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="60">
            <name>Described by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359810">
                <text>no</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="61">
            <name>Date Entered</name>
            <description>The date this item was entered into the archive.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359811">
                <text>2002-01-31</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
    </elementSetContainer>
  </item>
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      <elementSetContainer>
        <elementSet elementSetId="1">
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          <elementContainer>
            <element elementId="50">
              <name>Title</name>
              <description>A name given to the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="264506">
                  <text>Department of Justice Emails</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="41">
              <name>Description</name>
              <description>An account of the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="264507">
                  <text>The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families.  These e-mails have been organized here by date.</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
          </elementContainer>
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      </elementSetContainer>
    </collection>
    <itemType itemTypeId="18">
      <name>September 11 Email</name>
      <description/>
      <elementContainer>
        <element elementId="65">
          <name>September 11 Email: Body</name>
          <description>The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end.</description>
          <elementTextContainer>
            <elementText elementTextId="359812">
              <text>
Wednesday, December 05, 2001 9:59 PM
Suggestion

As the time approaches to distribute funds from the "Victim's
Compensation" account, I realize that those who administer this fund
will face a difficult challenge....How should these funds be distributed
fairly?  The victims of the "September 11th Attach" included Americans
across all walks of life.  Some of these Americans were persons with
sexual orientations other than the majority, heterosexual population.
Please ensure that funds are dispersed appropriately to the domestic
partners, children, and other family members of ALL persons who lost
their lives in the terroristic attacks.
Sincerely,

Individual Comment
Fort Worth, TX

 
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        <element elementId="66">
          <name>September 11 Email: Date</name>
          <description>The local time and date when the message was written.</description>
          <elementTextContainer>
            <elementText elementTextId="359813">
              <text>2001-12-05</text>
            </elementText>
          </elementTextContainer>
        </element>
      </elementContainer>
    </itemType>
    <elementSetContainer>
      <elementSet elementSetId="1">
        <name>Dublin Core</name>
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        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359814">
                <text>dojA001064.xml</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
      <elementSet elementSetId="4">
        <name>911DA Item</name>
        <description>Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item.</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="52">
            <name>Status</name>
            <description>The process status of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359815">
                <text>approved</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="53">
            <name>Consent</name>
            <description>Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359816">
                <text>full</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="54">
            <name>Posting</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359817">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="55">
            <name>Copyright</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359818">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="56">
            <name>Source</name>
            <description>The source of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359819">
                <text>born-digital</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="57">
            <name>Media Type</name>
            <description>The media type of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359820">
                <text>email</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="59">
            <name>Created by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the author created this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359821">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="60">
            <name>Described by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359822">
                <text>no</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="61">
            <name>Date Entered</name>
            <description>The date this item was entered into the archive.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359823">
                <text>2001-12-05</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
    </elementSetContainer>
  </item>
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          <elementContainer>
            <element elementId="50">
              <name>Title</name>
              <description>A name given to the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
                <elementText elementTextId="264506">
                  <text>Department of Justice Emails</text>
                </elementText>
              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
            <element elementId="41">
              <name>Description</name>
              <description>An account of the resource</description>
              <elementTextContainer>
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              </elementTextContainer>
            </element>
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      </elementSetContainer>
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    <itemType itemTypeId="18">
      <name>September 11 Email</name>
      <description/>
      <elementContainer>
        <element elementId="65">
          <name>September 11 Email: Body</name>
          <description>The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end.</description>
          <elementTextContainer>
            <elementText elementTextId="359824">
              <text>
Wednesday, November 28, 2001 2:07 PM
Compensation eligibility

Importance: High

This is to urge the Department of Justice to include among relatives
eligible for compensation those who lost their life partners or defacto
parents or children, regardless of sexual orientation or marital status.
Thank you.
 
Individual Comment
Coral Springs, FL

</text>
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          </elementTextContainer>
        </element>
        <element elementId="66">
          <name>September 11 Email: Date</name>
          <description>The local time and date when the message was written.</description>
          <elementTextContainer>
            <elementText elementTextId="359825">
              <text>2001-11-28</text>
            </elementText>
          </elementTextContainer>
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          <element elementId="50">
            <name>Title</name>
            <description>A name given to the resource</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359826">
                <text>dojA000095.xml</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
      <elementSet elementSetId="4">
        <name>911DA Item</name>
        <description>Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item.</description>
        <elementContainer>
          <element elementId="52">
            <name>Status</name>
            <description>The process status of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359827">
                <text>approved</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="53">
            <name>Consent</name>
            <description>Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359828">
                <text>full</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="54">
            <name>Posting</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359829">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="55">
            <name>Copyright</name>
            <description>Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359830">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="56">
            <name>Source</name>
            <description>The source of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359831">
                <text>born-digital</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="57">
            <name>Media Type</name>
            <description>The media type of this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359832">
                <text>email</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="59">
            <name>Created by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the author created this item.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359833">
                <text>yes</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="60">
            <name>Described by Author</name>
            <description>Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359834">
                <text>no</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
          <element elementId="61">
            <name>Date Entered</name>
            <description>The date this item was entered into the archive.</description>
            <elementTextContainer>
              <elementText elementTextId="359835">
                <text>2001-11-28</text>
              </elementText>
            </elementTextContainer>
          </element>
        </elementContainer>
      </elementSet>
    </elementSetContainer>
  </item>
</itemContainer>
