R000659
Wednesday, March 13, 2002 2:43 PM
Fair disbursement of 9-11 funds
Dear Kenneth Feinberg,
I am writing to voice my concern over the exclusion of same-sex partners
from the 9/11 Victims' Compensation Fund. This horrible tragedy was
unprecedented and affected people from all walks of American society.
All the affected deserve our help. The Bush administration has recognized
that a compassionate and effective response will entail making certain
exceptions to general U.S. policy on eligibility for public benefits, such as
making compensation available to undocumented aliens (and protecting
their employers from prosecution should such individuals come forward).
Please make sure that ALL affected families and households receive the
assistance they need to cope with this terrorist attack, whether the
household was counting on the income of a brother or sister, an
opposite-sex but unmarried partner, a same-sex partner, or a friend. Fair
rules can be devised for assisting all families and households who were
directly affected by this terrorist attack. Please don't use this as an
opportunity to cut out or further marginalize people whose loss and grief is
no less real because they are not heterosexual.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Alexandria, Virginia