W000311
Sunday, November 11, 2001 8:32 PM
lack of public knowledge of federal fund.
I first read of the Federal fund for victims' families on Oct. 1 in the NY Times web page.Since that time I have carefully watched T.V. and the news media for more information. It has bothered me to see the media
continuing to solicit donations for the victims families, since I knew that there was a question whether the
donations received by the families would be deducted from the amount they would receive from the federal fund. I have asked dozens of people about the fund, they never heard of it. I have Emailed and phoned T.V.
stations, no mention of the fund. My local newspaper thought I was mistaken. Why would the government give each family $1 million ? They asked. As part of the bailout of the airlines I tried to explain. They were unconvinced. Because of this lack of knowledge on the part of the public, and the refusal of the T.V. news and
CNN people to give any details at all about this fund, I have been appalled to see widows almost in tears on T.V. One widow said that the United Way had said that they would pay three months bills for her up to $9,000. Upon hearing that, I felt that was fair enough. I always felt that it was my responsibility to see that my family would be provided for if I did not return home alive that night. I therefore feel that a $10,000 cap for
charities above the federal payment would be fair. I receive a Pension of $220 a YEAR above our social security income. I know that if a person receives $1 million and is entitled to social security survivors benefits, they can be considered to have been "made whole".
Individual Comment
Homhsassa, FL