W000462
Wednesday, November 21, 2001 12:33 PM
comments on Topic #3 and Topic #6 of Victim Compensation Fund
November 20, 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
Sent via e-mail victimcomp.comments@usdoj.gov and fax: 301-519-5956
Re: comments on Topic #3 and Topic #6 of Victim Compensation Fund
Dear Mr. Zwick:
We are the widower and stepfather of September 11th terrorist attack
victim , a 41-year-old wife and mother of two young
daughters. was a passenger on American Airlines Flight No. 11, en route
to Los Angeles on a business trip along with six coworkers. We are writing
today to comment on the rules and regulations being drafted for the U.S.
Victim Compensation Fund.
First let us say that we are grateful to Congress for creating the Fund,
and to all of the people at the U.S. Justice Department for their hard work
in drafting the Fund's regulations. The Fund's existence is a great comfort
to us and our family.
Nothing could ever replace . 's children have lost the loving,
caring relationship and the guidance that she was able to provide her 3½ and
7 year-old daughters. 's mother wakes up each morning not being able to
believe that she can no longer talk to her beautiful baby.
was a significant contributor to the income of the household.
Though no amount of money could make up for what has happened, hopefully the
Fund will be able to provide 's children and family with the long-term
financial security they lost when was killed.
We believe there are two things that could help ensure the Fund gives our
family their full security: individual consideration of claims and a
prohibition on deducting charitable contributions from claim awards.
Individual Consideration of Claims:
was an individual; she was a human being and had very unique
characteristics, as did all the individuals who were lost. Each family has
different economic losses related to the tragedy. It is only fair for all of
these circumstances to be considered when deciding on a claim.
We understand that the people administering the Fund have a limited time
to hear cases. We are told, however, that there are ways to make the hearing
process streamlined, yet still individualized. We ask that you make every
effort to do so.
Page 2
Comments of and
Families deserve to have their individual circumstances heard, and to
have their losses fully and individually compensated, as Congress has
promised. , and of course, each of the victims, had special and
different relationships with their spouse, children, parents, friends and
communities, and to chart or otherwise depersonalize these relationships
would be an affront. Please do not reduce the realities of familiesâ??
terrible losses to a "grid" or "matrix" system that does not take the merits
of every case, and the devastating losses of every family, into account.
Charitable Gifts Should Not Be Subtracted:
Please do not allow charitable gifts to be subtracted from Fund awards.
People gave those charitable gifts in order to help our family and others in
an emergency situation. There is no reason our family, or any other victims
family, should be penalized for the American public's generosity. It is hard
to believe that any donor intended that their gifts be used to subsidize the
Fund.
The compensation the Fund provides is supposed to ensure the future of
's children and the families of others who have suffered irreparable
losses. Reducing that compensation will have a direct affect on 's
children's lives and the lives of thousands of other children. There is no
reason that these children should be shortchanged any more than they have
been already.
In addition, this is not money our family would have received under the
Fund anyway. Charitable gifts have covered short-term expenses that the Fund
was not designed to cover â?? like the costs associated with family membersâ??
time lost at work due to the tragedy.
One last note: We hope that arrangements will be made for hearings to be
held in many cities throughout the U.S. so that victims are not burdened with
the costs of travel.
We thank you for taking the time to consider our thoughts on these
matters. The job you are doing is extremely important â?? for victims, their
families, and our nation.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Neeham, MA
Jamaica Plain, MA