W000099
Tuesday, November 06, 2001 11:41 AM
September 11 Victim Compensation Fund
Dear Attorney General Ashcroft and DOJ Staff,
Thank you for the opportunity to submit commentary on the rules for
this Fund Program. The major point that I wish to make is my strong
opposition to such a Fund without both individual claim caps (per
victim and per decedent) and for a total cap on the Fund itself.
Without such upper limits, I cannot see how the Special Master in
charge can possibly adjudicate awards which will not seriously impact
the federal budget. Who can put an income projection (for life onto a
bread-winner, now deceased, and then add in Pain and Suffering, as
well as specific damages, and not come to an amount which is well in
excess of the budget capacity of this country for all 5000 to 6000
affected families? In view of the fact that Mrs. Kennedy and her
children were not given a blank check, nor the families of posthumous
winners of the Congressional Medal of Honor, nor the Killed-In-Action
from US armed forces, nor familes of others lost in acts of war (PanAm
Lockerbie, KAL007, The Lusitania, etc.), an unlimited Fund with
unlimited caps is simply untenable. It undercuts American sacrifices
made in prior conflicts and acts of terror. It breaks the bank. And it
will diminish the generosity of Americans in their charitable giving,
if they believe the Fund will beget future such unlimited federal
funds for earthquakes, tornados, and acts of war. Why give to charity,
if Uncle Sam has an unlimited pool of money for the victims? Write the
rules, Mr. Attorney General, with sensible caps and limits. Please.
Thank You Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Johnstown, Ohio