A001237
Thursday, December 06, 2001 9:47 PM
"September 11 Victim Compensation Fund" Administration and
Distribution
I understand the Department of Justice is soliciting comments on the
administration and distribution of the September 11 Victim Compensation
Fund.
As a retired military officer, it is my strong belief that the fund
should be distributed to the injured and to the families, regardless of
the composition of that unit, of those that were killed in the attacks.
It is imperative that the U.S. Government treat all of the impacted
families with dignity and respect and equality. The Justice Department
should include 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 U.S. Government
should follow the example already set by New York Governor Pataki in
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."
In this time that the US Government is trying to show the world that
gender equality is important in Afghanistan, it is vital to maintain
that level-handed and equality oriented policy in its own actions.
The pain of the non-traditional family impacted by these attacks is no
less.
The loss of the non-traditional family is no less.
Access to justice and equality in the aftermath of this crisis must be
no less.
Thank you.
Individual Comment