631 20 70359 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Tuesday, March 12, 2002 11:25 AM Fwd: THE LIST: 9/11 Fund Screws Gays Sirs. I am a gay american. Proud, successfull, and out. This discriminatory practice by your fund is outragous. My company gave over $14,000 twards this fund. and now I would like to have my money back so I can give it the loved ones of our gay heros. SHAME ON YOU for this insult! Please let me know how I start the process of having my money returned to me. I have no problem in taking a legal course of action if that is what it takes. I am sure the gay and straight press would eat it up. Individual Comment September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-03-12 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojR000408.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-03-12 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Wednesday, December 05, 2001 10:27 PM take care of survivors of ALL 9-11's victims- I request that you assure that ALL survivors of victims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks are provided for, including unmarried domestic partners. Hundreds of thousands of Americans didn't give millions of dollars in relief funds so that only SOME victims would be helped. It makes me deeply angry that in the face of our tragedy, some people want to argue about who counts. Individual Comment Granville, OH September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-05 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojA001071.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2001-12-05 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Wednesday, December 19, 2001 9:04 AM Support Equal Access to Crisis Relief Benefits December 19, 2001 Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick, I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination. As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle of equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those who lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children, without regard to sexual orientation or marital status. The State of New York has already adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on a showing of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that anyone who shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities and the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need." Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks. Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies. An inclusive policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an important principle for other such funds. In compensating victims, real justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families - impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with dignity and equality. Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11 attacks have equal access to the relief fund. Sincerely, Individual Comment st.louis , MO September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-19 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojA002811.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2001-12-19 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Saturday, March 16, 2002 8:58 PM excluding gays and lesbians from 9/11victims compensation Kenneth L. Zwick, Director Office of Management Programs Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice Dear Sir: Excluding gays and lesbians from compensation for lost loved ones during the 9/11 tragedy is unfair, heartless, exclusionary and senseless. Statistics say tens of millions in America are gay or lesbian. We are not going to disappear and we are entitled to the same treatment as any citizen, any fetus and certainly any illegal alien, and should be afforded the same financial compensation for our losses from 9/11 without a federal law compelling people like you from doing the right thing. There is a gay presence on the Internet that you will soon learn more about, and if you value your job, you need to relent on your Neanderthal, homophobic stance and do the right thing. Kenneth Zwick is your name, and unless you want it on the lips of every outraged gay and lesbian in America, do your job and do the right thing. This is a disgrace for which you should feel outright shame. Individual Comment San Antoinio, Texas September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-03-16 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojR001240.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-03-16 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Friday, December 14, 2001 9:12 PM 9-11 Dear Mr. Zwick: I am writing in response to the Department's request for public comments regarding the forthcoming regulations for implementing and the administering "September 11 Victim Compensation Fund." I strongly urge the Department to draft regulations that ensure compensation is available to all victims of the attack, including the committed partners and the non-biological children of gay and lesbian victims. It is unquestionable that the devastating grief and economic losses suffered by the families of gay and lesbian victims are no less than that of other families. Just as the terrorists drew no lines in choosing their victims, our country must draw no lines in compensating those who suffered the most personal of losses from these horrific attacks. Many Americans lost their lives on September 11, each of whom left behind loved ones. I urge the Department to honor these bonds by treating the families of gay and lesbian victims as you would any other. Sincerely, Individual Comment Anchorage, AK September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-14 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojA001971.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2001-12-14 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Saturday, March 16, 2002 1:12 PM discrimination of gays & lesbians is wrong!! Dear Americans, Your idea of discrimination against partners of gay American heroes of the Sept. 11 disaster is wrong. Why should illegal aliens to your country get preferential treatment when you are openly discriminating against the partners of gay or lesbian victims? I am very sad and angry about this dual, unfair treatment of my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. You are devaluing a family unit that is also grieving just as much as any others. I hope you come to your senses and right this wrong. Individual Comment Toronto, Canada September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-03-16 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojR000898.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-03-16 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Monday, March 11, 2002 4:12 PM Excluding Gay Patners from Sept 11th Fund Dear Sir/Madam: it is with shock that I read that you are excluding gay partners from receiving compensation from this fund...what is it it that makes any one of us less worthy of receiving compensation? How can you in conscience exclude deserving individuals from receiving their rightful compensation just based on their sexual orientation? I ask you to reconsider your clearly discrimatory action and give to those what they deserve. Sincerely, Individual Comment Sherman Oaks, CA September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-03-11 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojR000234.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-03-11 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Tuesday, March 26, 2002 2:38 PM Distribution guidance for 9/11 Victim's family members Special Master Kenneth Feinberg, Thank you for taking on this tough task. It has gone along way in a couple of months. I just have some comments and questions. First, I think the amount of compensation may be a great help to some families, but can be disastrous for our families. The large dollar amount tends to make people (including me) interpret rulings in a subjective manner, especially when the Final Ruling leaves open how the distribution of the compensation money will be carried out. Personally, I do not want any, but I want a say in how it is distributed. Here are 4 key questions: 1. Is the distribution a decision of just the Victim's Personal Representative? 2. Is there a form/write-up for a Victim's siblings or other family members to express their official opinions? 3. There is a clause in sections II.j and III.e that the fund distribution must be done "in a manner consistent with the law of the State or country where the victim lived, with any applicable rulings made by a court of competent jurisdiction, or as directed by the Special Master". Does one of the 3 choices over-rule the other? Which is the ultimate ruling authority? It would be stupid to appeal again and again. 4. Is there a definitive ruling in Virginia that says Victim's parents and siblings do not deserve to be compensated at all? The link to the Virginia Compensation Commission (http://www.vwc.state.va.us/) does not lead to such information. Nor does the person who answers the listed 1-800-552-4007 (program director, Ms. Ware). Would really appreciate getting some advices in a week. Thanks!!! Individual Comment September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-03-26 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojR002738.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-03-26 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Saturday, December 22, 2001 2:35 PM Vcitim Compensation Fund Mr. Feinberg, My name is &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp , &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp and &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp of &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp . Give Your Voice is an organization compiled of civilian Families that have been affected by the attack on our country September 11th 2001. My Brother &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp was in Tower 2 and my Sister &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp was in Tower 1. Though &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp found her way home safely, My Brother &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp remained on the &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp floor and was lost in the collapse of the Tower. I am writing you in response to your recent release of the regulations outlining how my Parents will be compensated by our Government. I will outline the flaws as I see them.... As I educated my self with the specifics of the regulations, I understand that there is not much that can be disputed in regards to the Economical portion of the equation. As I read the Guidelines, I believe that the definition of the "Non-Economic" losses is gravely restricted and inadequate. The "Non-Economic" loss is restricted to the pain and suffering of those lives lost or physically affected by the attack. This definition is not inclusive to the mental anguish affected by those inside and outside the Tower Complex and Pentagon. Including the loss of enjoyment of life by the surviving Family members. As you know, by law Families can receive compensation for both tangible and intangible damages. If this system is designed to both stabilize our Airline Industry and compensate Families affect by this tragedy had they sought litigation, why would it not include all damages that would be entitled to them by law. As I read the regulations that determine the value that compensate pain and suffering endured by my Brother &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp , I was extremely concerned. Why were rewards received by Uniformed personnel who died in the line of duty used as precedent. Why did you not consider the rewards received by Families in past Plane Crashes or Terrorist cases as precedent??? My Brother was an Electrician, not a Uniformed Soldier. &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp did not die in the line of duty...he was made an example of by The Al Queda Terrorist Network because he was an American Citizen and proud to be one. He was murdered because our Government left him vulnerable and our Airline Industry failed to find security a primary concern. 250,000 is a fraction of what my Parents would have received in a court of law, this of course with out the liability caps our Government conveniently put in place. Here is what I would like changed in the regulation: Expand the definition of "Non-Economic" losses to its full form. Remove the presumptive guidelines, so we may have a hearing to decide what should be sufficient compensation for my Brother's pain and suffering. Or, at least dignify the value of my Brother's pain and suffering to a respectable figure. I hope you will act on these flaws and take corrective actions to help the families that are still suffering. If you would like to contact me you may reach me at &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp or work &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp . Thank you, Individual Comment September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-22 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojN000716.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2001-12-22 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Monday, November 19, 2001 8:04 PM Comments on Notice of Inquiry and Advance Notice of Rulemaking I am attaching comments as General Counsel of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. Attachment 1: Kenneth L. Zwick Director Office of Management Programs Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20530 Via e-mail Dear Mr. Zwick: I am the General Counsel of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., also known as KBW. Our main offices were located on the 88th and 89th floors of Two World Trade Center in New York. KBW is a full service broker dealer that, prior to September 11, 2001, had approximately 175 employees in New York and an additional 50 employees in six smaller satellite offices throughout the country. KBW lost 67 employees in the terrorist attack. Before the airplane crashed into Two World Trade Center, approximately 40 employees who had been in the office had left the building. No KBW employees on the 88th and 89th floors at the time of this second crash survived. At this time, only eight of the KBW victims have been found and positively identified. Of these victims, 33 were married and 28 had children. In some cases, victims also provide some or all of the support to their parents or other family members. There were also some employees who were engaged to be married. Ages of victims ranged from 23 years old to 77 years old. Seventeen were in their 20's; thirty-one were in their 30's; thirteen were in their 40's; four were in their 50's; one was in their 60's; and one was in their 70's. The victim's annual compensation ranged from the low five figures into seven figures. The job descriptions of our victims covered the full range of employees, from Chairman to receptionist. Except for those lost, only one KBW employee was physically injured in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Since the September 11 attacks, KBW has been communicating with every single victim family through a "Shepard's Program." Each victim's family has been assigned to a surviving KBW employee. The KBW employee serves as a communication link to the family. Through this program, KBW has become aware of the broad spectrum of concerns and difficulties being faced by those close to the victims. A significant concern for most families is how to deal with the economic impact of losing a key earner in the family. The clear intent of the Congress in adopting the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 (the "Fund" or the "Victims Compensation Fund") is to address, in a full, fair and prompt manner, the consequences that will be faced by persons injured and killed in the attacks and their families. As part of the "Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act" (the "Act") this Fund is intended to provide a meaningful alternative for all such victims to litigation of tort claims against the airlines and others. The limitations on liability contained in Section 408 of the Act were clearly designed to limit the attractiveness of conventional litigation against the airlines. The recent extension in the bills passed by the House and Senate of the limitations on liability to other potential defendants makes conventional recovery for losses through litigation an even more unattractive alternative for victims and their families. It would be compounding a tragedy for these persons if, in light of these unprecedented limitations on liability, the Victims Compensation Fund is not administered in a manner designed to afford a fair award of benefits to compensate for losses suffered by these persons. We strongly believe that in order to accomplish this goal, any regulations implemented under the Act and the administration of the Fund by the Special Master must fairly compensate for the losses faced at all age, job description or compensation levels. There should be no arbitrary limitations or assumptions that would limit the ability of claimants to present all appropriate evidence to establish economic and non-economic loss. If this is not done, the Fund will then only be fair to the limited number of persons whose claims will be small enough that they may feel fairly treated. It will also, under such a scenario, become an inadequate refuge for those so desperate for a "quick" payout, regardless of the fairness, that they will end up being short-changed for their true losses. Others will face the choice of inadequate awards under the Fund or pursue protracted litigation where damages are limited to insurance coverage the defendant had in place, even if inadequate. We believe many victims and their families would embrace a fair and simple claims process that would provide economic security, allowing them to move on with their lives. For many of these persons, submission of claims solely on paper, without hearings, may be appropriate. Some families, either because they believe they will receive a higher amount by submitting substantial expert and other testimony at a hearing before the Special Master or in conventional litigation, will not take advantage of such a streamlined process. Because of these potentially different approaches, we believe that the regulations should envision a bifurcated claims process. In one, a simplified claim process, although a pure "formula" may not be possible, the end result of filing a claim should be fairly obvious. Even such an approach would have to allow for presentation by the claimant, and take account of, individual special circumstances. For example, at KBW, equity ownership represented a significant economic benefit for employee shareholders. It would be unfair if a simplified process did not allow for some "proof" of economic loss associated with current and potential future equity ownership. This simplified claims process is more fully discussed below under Topic #4. In a second, more complex claims process, the regulations would provide for an evidentiary and hearing process which is much like the damages phase of a conventional tort case. Obviously, if neither of these alternatives is acceptable, a victim's representative may pursue conventional litigation, cognizant of the limitations on liability and venue contained in Section 408 of the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act. The remainder of this comment letter will address certain specific questions raised in Notice of Inquiry and Advance Notice of Rule Making (the "Notice of Rulemaking") of the Department of Justice published on November 5, 2001. The underlined captions below refer to captions where specific issues have been raised in the Notice of Rule Making. General approach to regulations that must be promulgated by December 21, 2001. f) Issues relating to the rules to be promulgated by December 21, 2001. Scope of Regulations. In light of the extensive waiver of rights for those who make claims under the Victims Compensation Fund, we believe the rules adopted should be extremely comprehensive. If rules are vague or incomplete, many potential claimants may delay filing claims. This may also encourage claimants to pursue conventional litigation, which is clearly not the intent of the Act. In addition, such an incomplete set of rules may leave open important threshold questions for potential claimants. For example, potential claimants will need clear guidance on the scope and application of the definition of collateral source in assessing whether to seek benefits under the Act. Charities, employers, and other potential sources of support to victims will also benefit from clarity on this point in making gifts and structuring survivors benefits. This is discussed in greater detail under Topic #6, below. The Act appears to provide for claims to be made solely by the victim or the victims representative. However, the Act appears to call for reduction of awards to reflect collateral sources properly paid to persons other than a victim or their estate. This opens the question of whether the personal representative or victim should also allege ancillary claims, such as family claims, against the Fund. If only victim and estate claims are permitted, the litigation waiver should only apply to the victim or victim's estate. If family claims, such as, loss of consortium, loss of parental guidance and comfort or intentional infliction of emotional distress, are allowed, the waiver of rights to pursue civil litigation may also cover these persons. There should be no doubt as to the scope of potential claims and the extent of the waiver. Topics #1 & 2: The forms to be used in submitting claims under this program and the information to be included on the claims form. Consistent with the bifurcated approach discussed above, a simplified application form should be made available for the simple claims process. This form should be available for any size of benefit claim and should not be limited to claims below a maximum dollar amount. Even large claims may be efficiently handled through a fair simplified application process. Even such a simple claims form will require fairly detailed information (some of which may best be provided in the form of attachments). Some of the most important information would include the following: * Personal information about the victim * A description of injuries, if the victim has been injured (which may be in the form of medical records and receipts) or a statement that the victim has died (along with a copy of the Death Certificate) * Information establishing the legal right of a claimant to act as the personal representative of the victim (which could be a state guardianship order or appointment as an administrator or executor for a decedent) * Information that establishes the presence of the victim at the sight of the attack (which may be similar to the information required for issuance of a death certificate-such as a certificate from the next of kin and from an employer) including their likely specific location in the area of the attack. * An employment and compensation history and job description of the victim (either through copies of W-2's, tax returns or letters from employers) * Information documenting other specific actual or potential economic or other non-economic loss suffered by the victim * Information about persons who may have an interest in the benefits paid to the victim, including family members, other dependents, and known creditors or others with legal claims against the victim (this information should be used as the basis for some mailing of a notice to such interested parties, similar to the process used in administering a probate proceeding) It may be that even for such a simplified claims process, the information may be supplied in a series of steps. After the initial filing of this form, there should be a procedure to allow the claimant to provide additional written information and to provide information to further explain or clarify certain statements or claims. Because this is an entirely new process and because of the complete destruction in the terrorist attacks, which may have resulted in destruction of critical information, and the related emotional toll on potential claimants, we believe there should be a liberal opportunity to complete the filing and to correct mistakes in a filing. In light of the requirement that claimants waive rights to civil litigation, such waivers should not be effective until the form is fully filed and all appropriate information has been submitted and the form is accepted as complete for filing by the Special Master. It would be unnecessary to have claimants who wish to offer substantial testimony or evidence and obtain a hearing to have to provide substantial details of their claim in an initial filing. For this more complex process, the Department should provide a different form that will effectively commence the claims process, recognizing that greater detail will be submitted in further submissions and hearing testimony. There should be uniform rules of evidence adopted, including rights to subpoena witnesses and rules of conduct for document subpoenas and depositions. Since this will be a complex procedure, the Special Master and the claimant should have the right to waive specific deadlines to allow for the proper productions and the preparation of expert reports and testimony. Recognizing that this is a new program, and that such claimants may subsequently elect to pursue the simplified claims process, or pursue litigation, the waiver of the right to pursue civil litigation under the more complex process should not be deemed effective until some designated time after the initial filing. Topic #4: Procedures to assist an individual in filing and pursuing claims under this title. There are a variety of issues common to nearly all claims. Many of these are similar to the type of statistical or actuarial data and assumptions often used in mass tort cases. Until there is widespread dissemination of the amount of a number of awards from the Fund, there could be great uncertainty among claimants as to what they may expect. This may convince claimants to either wait until others have been "guinea pigs" or that, in making any claim, they must provide extensive proof of all potentially relevant data and assumptions. The Department should consider engaging experts who can prepare a variety of models and assumptions on which the Department will rely in handling of the claims process. Such data should be published along with some explanation of how it will be applied by the Special Master in the claims process. The models and assumptions should cover issues such as life expectancy, number of productive working years in comparable jobs in relevant industries, anticipated inflation and discount rates, reasonable expectations as to compensation growth and industry and economic cycle statistics. Assumptions used in establishing awards related to the pain and suffering of a deceased victim should also be published. Victims and personal representatives may rely on such assumptions or may, in written submissions or by oral testimony, present additional information in the nature of expert data. Unless it is appropriate for the Special Master to take into account additional or contrary proof on such issues presented by a claimant, such published assumptions should be binding upon the Special Master. Limitations on Fees of Attorneys and Others. Given the importance to victims and their families of the end result of making a claim, it is highly likely that even those willing to file under a simplified procedure for written submissions will use the services of an attorney or other outside claims assistance. It is nearly certain that those using a complex claims process will use an attorney and other advisors. While certain organizations have pledged to provide pro bono services to assist in making claims, many individuals will want to engage advisors who may charge a fee. Limiting fees may prevent claimants from obtaining the advice they may feel is best. To the extent not already covered by existing laws, improper solicitations of potential claimants should be prohibited. "Cold call" solicitations of victims or their families should be discouraged. Topic #5: Claimant Eligibility Definition of Physical Harm and Immediate Aftermath. In defining both "physical harm" and "immediate aftermath" we believe certain types of claims, such as those made by persons who were not present at the time of attack or during any subsequent structural failure, should be excluded from the Victims Fund process. Under such a limitation, it should be made clear if rescue and recovery workers who arrived at the scene after the actual attacks or structural collapse would be allowed as claimants under the Fund. There is a need to limit the scope of potential claimants under the Fund. If this is not done, the process may be overrun by claims with a far less clear connection to the terrorist attack. For example, residents of apartments in lower Manhattan making claims based on environmental damage related to ongoing fire condition or asbestos contamination have the option to pursue conventional tort claims and should not be claimants against the Victims Compensation Fund. Unfortunately, with the continuing goal of Congress to limit potential defendant liability, it may be that these victims will not ultimately receive fair treatment in the courts. The New York City Coroner's office has already established the type of proof necessary to issue a death certificate for victims. Such a level of proof should be sufficient for the Special Master to prove that the victim was in such a circle of imminent physical danger. This would require an affidavit from the next of kin and the employer. Other information, such as letters from persons who saw a victim in the building, or who spoke with or received an email from the victim at the time, may help verify these affidavits and may provide more specific information on the location of the victim in the area of attack. In lieu of such affidavits, the death certificate itself may establish presence at the site during the attack or immediate aftermath. Definition of Personal Representative. Generally, if ancillary family claims are not allowed, an injured victim who is competent to make a claim should be the only party permitted to make such a claim under the Act. If, however, ancillary claims are allowed to be included, such persons should be notified that they have a right to join in such a claims process. For a surviving victim not competent to make an individual claim, a properly appointed guardian under state law should be the personal representative. For deceased victims, their personal representative should be the same as the administrator or executor under the intestacy or probate process, since these persons legally represent the victim's estate. Since New York and other states have adopted streamlined death certificate and probate processes, the appointment of such a representative should not be an undue burden. In order to limit fraudulent claims, any claims made by persons other than the victim, the victim's next of kin or the state appointed guardian, executor or administrator of the victim should be reviewed extremely carefully. Topic #6: Nature and Amount of Compensation. In addition to publishing certain assumptions and models that may be relied upon by the Special Master, it would be advisable to publish statistics of actual awards in a manner that can assist in preparation of future claims. Obviously the privacy and security of recipients of awards under the Fund must be protected. Collateral Sources. We believe that an overly broad definition of collateral sources is likely to force potential claimants to pursue conventional tort claims and avoid the Victims Compensation Fund. The definition of Collateral Source should be consistent with the application of similar concepts as applied in conventional tort cases. The Act has a substantial inconsistency between the definition of "Collateral Source" in Section 402 (4) and the impact of collateral sources on the decision process of the Special Master, as set forth in Section 405 (b)(6). Section 402 (4) provides: The term " collateral source" means all collateral sources, including life insurance, pension funds, death benefit programs, and payments by Federal, State or local governments related to the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001 (emphasis supplied). Section 405 (b)(6) provides: The Special Master shall reduce the amount of compensation determined under paragraph (1)(B)(ii) by the amount of the collateral source compensation the claimant has received or is entitled to receive as a result of the terrorist related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001(emphasis supplied). If the allowable claims of a personal representative or injured victim do not include family claims of other relatives, a narrow reading of the operation of Section 405 (b)(6) to reduce an award solely by amounts payable to the victim or their estate by reason of such person's death or injury would be appropriate. Such a reading would exclude from collateral sources used to reduce benefit awards amounts paid to beneficiaries of insurance policies, pension funds, IRA accounts and other similar items, other than those paid directly to the victim or the victim's estate. Such a treatment would be generally consistent with state tort laws. On the other hand, if ancillary family claims are allowed, it may be proper to include in collateral source payments certain payments made or to be made to family members. The definition in Section 402 is very inclusive. However, we believe that the inclusion of items which were already assets owned by the victim prior to the attack in collateral sources is not appropriate. For example, vested interests in pension funds and IRA or 401(K) accounts; the cash surrender value of whole or universal life policies (as opposed to term policies); and interests in deferred compensation plans are really assets owned by the victim before the terrorist related attack. To include these in collateral source items would be to penalize the victims who saved and built their assets while benefiting victims who made fewer efforts to save and build their assets. Such "owned" assets can easily be distinguished from term life insurance payments; disability insurance payments, survivor's benefit payments; and payments made under various government programs such as Social Security, Workman's Compensation, and Crime Victims Board payments. While an argument could be made that payments from various charities are collateral sources, there is no "entitlement" to such amounts and, accordingly, the language of Section 405(b)(6) would appear to support exclusion of such amounts. Similarly, outright gifts from family, friends or employers, do not represent an "entitlement" and should be excluded from collateral sources. Including such items in the definition of collateral sources will either reduce the interest of various persons in helping victims and their families or will cause such persons to wait until claims have been awarded under the Victims Compensation Fund before making such gifts. If the Department is not prepared to completely exclude such gifts from collateral source treatment, at a minimum, gifts for certain purposes, such as payment of health insurance premiums, tuition or other education assistance and housing and other "emergency" expenses should be excluded. I appreciate the opportunity to provide these comments to the Department of Justice. While I recognize the difficulties in drafting regulations to implement the September 11 Victims Compensation Fund of 2001, a fair simplified process will benefit many victims and families consistent with the purposes of the Act. Very truly yours, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. New York, New York September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-11-19 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojW000413.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2001-11-19 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Monday, January 14, 2002 12:58 AM (no subject) I think that the rules and regulations that ken Feinberg has set up for the Victims Compensation Fund are horribly unfair. Congress set this fund up so that we, the victims and their families would not have to go to court and could get on with out lives quicker. ken feinberg took that whole idea and made a joke of it. Made a joke of all of our loved ones lives. We are giving up our right to sue, at least give us the opportunity to receive what can be a fair amount or close to it if we. We could all get a lot more if we sued, but most of us won't, if treated fairly. We would be doing the government a favor by not tying up the courts with 3000 law suits. We are the victims, not the government, you don't know what it is like for us, to have this happen to us all. We are the ones who have to live with this for the rest of our lives, our children have to grow up without parents, and mine, will never know her father, she is only 17 months old, at least give me the opportunity to offer her a wonderful life, money will not bring her daddy back, but it can help me to give her all the things that he would have wanted her to have. Think about it...how would you feel if this had happened to you? What if that was your spouse in that building and your child who will never know their parent? HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? Would you have made these rules and regulations had you been one of us? Sincerely, Individual Comment Ridgewood, New York September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-01-14 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojN001530.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-01-14 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Thursday, December 27, 2001 4:02 PM equal access December 27, 2001 Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick, I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination. As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle of equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those who lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children, without regard to sexual orientation or marital status. The State of New York has already adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on a showing of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that anyone who shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities and the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need." Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks. Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies. An inclusive policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an important principle for other such funds. In compensating victims, real justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families - impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with dignity and equality. Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11 attacks have equal access to the relief fund. Sincerely, Individual Comment Hamden, CT September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-27 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojN001015.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2001-12-27 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Tuesday, January 22, 2002 2:38 PM compensation to illegal aliens. Please: Let the employees learn that they should not work for scab labor wages. DO NOT START THE PRACTICE OF TAKING GOVERNMENT MONEY TO MAKE UP FOR THOSE CHEATING EMPLOYERS. GOD, YOU LOVE TO GIVE TAXPAYER MONEY AWAY, DON'T YOU? NO compensation to those businesses who took advantage of illegals and hired this scab labor during this recession. PLEASE. Individual Comment September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-01-22 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojN002279.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-01-22 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Wednesday, December 19, 2001 11:32 AM Access to Relief Benifits Equally December 19, 2001 Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick, I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination. As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle of equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those who lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children, without regard to sexual orientation or marital status. The State of New York has already adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on a showing of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that anyone who shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities and the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need." Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks. Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies. An inclusive policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an important principle for other such funds. In compensating victims, real justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families - impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with dignity and equality. Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11 attacks have equal access to the relief fund. Sincerely, Individual Comment Manasquan, NJ September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-19 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojA005050.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2001-12-19 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Thursday, December 20, 2001 3:26 AM Support Equal Access to Relief Funds December 20, 2001 Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick, I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination. As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle of equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those who lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children, without regard to sexual orientation or marital status. The State of New York has already adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on a showing of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that anyone who shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities and the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need." Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks. Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies. An inclusive policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an important principle for other such funds. In compensating victims, real justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families - impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with dignity and equality. Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11 attacks have equal access to the relief fund. Sincerely, Individual Comment Palso Verdes Estates, CA September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-20 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojA004111.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2001-12-20 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Friday, March 22, 2002 8:58 AM Fund unfair to Gays1 I feel that the fund is unfair. It does not include anything about the gay/lesbian/transgendered/ bi people. That is not right! Please amend this situation immediately! Individual Comment September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-03-22 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojR002616.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-03-22 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Wednesday, March 20, 2002 9:56 AM 9/11 Benefits I have just received a very disturbing email stating that Gay and Lesbian victims and their survivors will not be eligible for relief funding. This is a very sad thought. Some of the heroes of that terrible day played major parts in how the day turned out for the better (than it could have been) and happen to be Gay or Lesbian, and to deprive them of benefits based on personal or religious beliefs or antiquated laws is just plain un-American. We throw our money at almost any nation that needs help, that comes from the taxpayers in part, and when one of our own needs help, then we won't help? Wow, when did America become a Cuba or Soviet Union of the latter 20th Century? It almost makes me ashamed to admit I am an American. I hope that the people elected to watch our country use the fullest of their abilities to make sure all Americans are compensated because their lives were changed by this tragedy. If the people in charge of this relief effort can award monies to illegal aliens and overlook their status in our country,what is so difficult about including our Gay and Lesbian friends who were lost that day? Please rethink these procedures so all of our brothers and sisters are helped with the fund. Thank You Individual Comment Milwaukee, WI September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-03-20 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojR002367.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-03-20 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Thursday, December 27, 2001 10:32 PM Equal Access to Crisis Relief Benefits for Surviving Gay and Lesbian Partners! December 27, 2001 Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick, I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights movement committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people without discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual orientation or marital status. As you know, the United States has committed to uphold international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary discrimination. As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, I ask that you apply basic international human rights standards, and the general principle of equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those who lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children, without regard to sexual orientation or marital status. The State of New York has already adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on a showing of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that anyone who shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities and the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need." Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks. Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies. An inclusive policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an important principle for other such funds. In compensating victims, real justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families - impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with dignity and equality. Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11 attacks have equal access to the relief fund. Sincerely, Individual Comment Fairfield, CT September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-27 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojN001034.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2001-12-27 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. December 5, 2001 Kenneth L. Zwick, Director Office of Management Programs, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice Dear Mr. Zwick I am writing in response to the Department's requests for public comments regarding the forthcoming regulations for implementing and administering the "September 11 Victim Compensation Fund." I strongly urge the Department to draft regulations that ensure compensation is available to all victims of the attack, including the committed partners and the non-biological children of gay and lesbian victims. It is unquestionable that the devastating grief and economic losses suffered by the families of gay and lesbian victims are no less than that of other families. Just as the terrorist of gay and lesbian victims are no less that that of other families. Just as the terrorist drew no lines in choosing their victims, our country must draw no lines in compensating those who suffered the most personal of losses from these horrific attacks. Many Americans lost their lives on September 11, each of whom left behind loved ones. I urge the Department to honor these bonds by treating the families of gay and lesbian victims as you would any other. Sincerely, Individual Comment Columbia, MD September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-05 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojA005494.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2001-12-05 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. Wednesday, December 05, 2001 4:53 PM fairness in September 11 Victim Compensation Fund Kenneth L. Zwick, Director Office of Management Programs, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice Dear Mr. Zwick: I am writing in response to the Department's request for public comments regarding the forthcoming regulations for implementing and administering the "September 11 Victim Compensation Fund." I strongly urge the Department to draft regulations that ensure compensation is available to all victims of the attack, including the committed partners and the non-biological children of gay and lesbian victims. It is unquestionable that the devastating grief and economic losses suffered by the families of gay and lesbian victims are no less than that of other families. Just as the terrorists drew no lines in choosing their victims, our country must draw no lines in compensating those who suffered the most personal of losses from these horrific attacks. Already, the intolerant and reactionary voices of the religious right have begun calling for denial of compensation for gay and lesbian families. The hateful words of this shrill minority must not deter our country's justice department from acting fairly and in accordance with the principles of democracy of our nation. Many Americans lost their lives on September 11, each of whom left behind loved ones. I urge the Department to honor these bonds by treating the families of gay and lesbian victims as you would any other. Sincerely, Individual Comment Valley Glen, CA September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-05 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojA000973.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2001-12-05