W000640
Dear Mr. Attorney General:
I join with my congressional colleagues in applauding the approach you are taking in soliciting
wide public comment in fulfilling your legislative mandate to promulgate regulations governing
the distribution of funds voted by Congress and approved by the President for victims of the
terrorist attacks of September 11.
I am writing to urge that in creating the category of those who qualify as "survivors of someone
lost in the crashes", (Topic 5, Notice of Inquiry), you consider compensating all of those who
suffered both grievous emotional loss from these murders, and significant financial loss as well.
That is, I believe that the federal government should provide such compensation as is appropriate
to all of those who had a close relationship with the murdered victim and whose own financial
position will be seriously adversely affected by the death. Relevant indicia of such a relationship
include a shared residence, shared bank accounts for other financial instruments, joint
membership in a health plan, a significant sharing of living expenses, etc. Obviously, a wide
range of different personal relationships will be covered by this, and I believe that this coverage
is wholly appropriate in this instance. I note that this is the approach taken by Governor George
Pataki of New York, where so many of the victims live.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
New York, NY