P000503
Kenneth L. Zwick
Director of Office of Management Programs, Civil Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20330
February 7, 2002
Dear Mr. Zwick
I am the year old son of , a victim of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. At the time of the attacks, my father was an employee of .
I understand that there is currently a proposal to allow common law spouses to collect
compensation from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. I am writing to
voice my opposition to those proposed changes.
I oppose the proposed changes for two reasons. First, while marriage is a big step, it is a simple
procedure. That a legal marriage did not occur should suggest that at least one of the two did not
want to get married. My second reason for opposing this is that my father lived for his children.
Should this woman be able to collect as a "wife" that would significantly reduce the
compensation my father's children would receive. I know in my heart that my father would not
want his children to suffer further.
Please do what is best for the children of the victims of this painful event. Keep in mind that we
can never replace our father or mother, sister or brother, son or daughter. But we can change
husbands or wives or people we chose to live with and consciously decide not to marry.
Thank you
Individual Comment
Brooklyn, NY