724 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. Wednesday, December 05, 2001 9:29 PM September 11th Victims I am writing this letter to express my shock at learning that September 11th Victim Compensation fund does not apply to gay and lesbian victims. How can our government withhold help based on one's sexuality. Are we not better than that in this country. Tragedy does not discriminate why would we? It saddens me to think we praised the gay passenger that help prevent an even worse tragedy and proved his patriotism but we are not sure it "right" to support and compensate his partner. A gay victim has the same needs as a heterosexual and should be treated with the same dignity we have shown to those individuals. It is my sincere hope that the Justice Department will not allow the voices a those who seemed to be afraid to show all humans the same rights and respect to make this decision. I am a happily married heterosexual who feels that the loss of a partner, no matter the type of partnership, is the loss of a family member. We must show the world that the United States is truly grateful for all its citizens and will take care of them. Thanks you, Individual Comment 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 dojA001048.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. Friday, March 15, 2002 5:01 PM 9/11 benefits for partners of gay victims I have just read of the decision not to bestow benefits on the survivor partners of 9/11 gay victims unless the victim's state of residence recognizes such unions. Since no such distinction is being made with illegal aliens whose residential legitimacy goes against the law of their home states, it can only be concluded that this decision is a case of selective discrimination directed against gays. This is unconscionable. Gay and straight people died in this horror with equal opportunity, and their survivors ought to be treated as equals in the distribution of compensation. Sincerely Individual CommentLos Angeles, CA September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-03-15 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 dojR000866.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. 2002-03-15 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 12:35 PM outraged I am outraged that the gay and lesbian partners of gay individuals that died will be treated differently than any other couple. The insult and harm inflicted pales in comparison to the acts of the terrorists. The gay people who died are being told thier lives and families are worthless in the eyes of thier country. At least the terrorists did not discriminate! Individual Comment 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 dojR000040.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. Friday, December 21, 2001 10:22 AM Protect Traditional Marriage Mr. Kenneth Zwick Office of Management Programs Department of Justice Washington. DC Dear Mr. Zwick: I want to express my opposition to any effort by the federal government to provide 9-11 victim compensation funds to "domestic partners" of unmarried survivors of the terrorist attack upon our nation. Funds disbursed through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 should only go to the surviving family members of those who died on 9-11. Funds must go to the widows, widowers, orphans, and other blood-related or adopted members of the family--not to unmarried sexual partners of those who died. To provide funds to "domestic partners" is to undermine the traditional definition of marriage and family to include any number of sexual liaisons between same-sex or opposite-sex unmarried couples. Many homosexuals and swinging heterosexuals, for example, engage in sex with multiple partners. Do we provide funds to each of the sexual partners? Where do we draw the line on how many "domestic partners" a person may have?Homosexual activists are exploiting the 9-11 tragedy by asking the federal government to redefine what constitutes a legitimate "family" under the law. In fact, homosexual activist &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp , writing in Out magazine has openly called for the subversion of the concept of marriage between a man and a woman. He has urged homosexuals to fight for the legalization of homosexual marriages and once legalized to "redefine the institution of marriage completely . . . . to debunk a myth and radically alter an archaic institution. . . . The most subversive action lesbians and gays can under take--and one that would perhaps benefit all of society--is to transform the notion of 'family' entirely." If the DOJ provides funds to "domestic partners," it will be helping &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp accomplish his goal: That of redefining marriage and altering what he calls an "archaic institution." We also oppose September 11th Funds going to the estates of the deceased instead of to their surviving family members. No one can know for certain where these funds will end up if they are deposited in the estate of a person who has died. The person may have willed his estate to a terrorist, racial hate group, or even to an organization like the North American Man-Boy Love Association. No one will know unless each person's will is examined by a DOJ lawyer. The money should go to the surviving family members of the deceased, not to the estate or to the surviving "domestic partner." Individual Comment Milton, FL September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-21 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 dojN000401.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. 2001-12-21 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 5:23 PM Kenneth L. Zwick, Director Office of Management Programs U.S. Department of Ju Justice Department please include 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. US Government please follow the example already set by New York Governor Pataki in 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." Individual Comment San Diego, 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 dojA000981.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 18, 2001 11:38 PM Support Equal Access to Crisis Relief December 18, 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 Jacksonville, FL September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-18 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 dojA002552.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. 2001-12-18 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 2:13 AM Equal Rights for Surviving Victims of 9-11 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 Fair Oaks, 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 dojA004095.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. Thursday, January 10, 2002 8:36 PM Interim Final Rule I am VERY concerned about the next time an act of terrorism occurs. Nobody seems to be considering the problems this program will create next time. 'Unwanted' dependents (infants, handicapped, feeble) will be 'dumped' at the site. People will flock into the area (in pairs, no doubt, so they will each have a witness of their whereabouts) and claim all sorts of 'injuries'. Medical facilities will be swamped with people trying to get 'proof' of their injuries. All of this extra chaos is going to make the job of emergency response personnel impossible, put the legitimate victims in further danger (possibly blocking their rescue), and will get in the way of treating people with critical medical needs - whether it be from the attack or an unrelated stroke/car accident/whatever. Don't think it won't happen. Remember that looters were able to get to the lower floors at ground zero long before anyone 'official' did! This was kept to minimum this time because the federal government has never done anything like this program before. Now, the lure of the possible hundreds-of-thousands or millions of dollars will be a big incentive for many. What do you plan do in order to prevent this problem you are now creating? You can announce now that there will NEVER be another 'special' program for any future events. But if that is the case, why is there a 'special' program THIS ONE TIME? It doesn't make sense and it is discriminatory. If it has never been done before and it will never be done again, then don't do it now! You can't guarantee there will NOT be a future attack - and you are KNOWINGLY making the situation worse! I would think the emergency response/medical personnel would be all over you on this. Next time people are going to lose their lives unnecessarily, and the federal government is going to be held accountable. The law suits will be unending. I have found it outrageous when I here the survivors-of-victims-of-9/11 accuse the government of murder. I think this claim is totally unfounded. Sadly, next time it will be true. (Maybe it will only be intentional manslaughter. I'm not a lawyer.) I really think you better rethink this whole program. Now. Before one cent is distributed. Individual Comment Denver, CO September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-01-10 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 dojN001519.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. 2002-01-10 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 8:16 AM It's Only Fair 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 Middletown, NY 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 dojA002728.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 1:29 AM crisis relief for surviving partners 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 New Orleans, LA 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 dojA004080.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. Sunday, December 23, 2001 7:10 PM Crisis relief for all December 23, 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 Milwaukee, WI September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-23 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 dojN000824.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. 2001-12-23 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 13, 2001 Special Master Kenneth R. Feinberg September 11th Victim Compensation Fund U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20530 To Mr. Feinberg: I am writing to urge you to ensure fair treatment for all surviving families of the tragedy on September 11th, including the children and families of low-wage workers and gay and lesbian families. Under traditional rules based on lost wages, the survivors of a bond trader earning millions of dollars per year might receive thousands of times as much compensation as the survivors of a dishwasher in one of the restaurants destroyed. Justice requires looking far beyond the last paycheck to the inherent worth of all those killed, so that a high minimum compensation level is set to lessen the disparities. It would be a double blow to the survivors to first lose their loved one and then watch as most of the taxpayer money went to those who were already well off in the first place. The second major issue has to do with recognizing the legitimacy of gay and lesbian relationships and families. Gay and lesbian families are especially vulnerable when one partner is killed. Because the option of marriage is unavailable, these families may find themselves in the traumatic predicament of having to prove that their union is legitimate. Fortunately, both the Red Cross and the State of New York have already announced that they will not discriminate against gay and lesbian families. The Department of Justice should do the same. Thank you for considering my comments. I look forward to hearing how you will act on these very important issues. Sincerely, Individual Comment El Cajon, CA September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-13 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 dojA005228.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. 2001-12-13 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 3:42 PM September 11 Victim Compensation Fund Kenneth L. Zwick, Director Office of Management Programs U.S. Department of Justice Dear Mr. Zwick, I am writing to encourage you and the Department of Justice to follow the example already set by New York Governor Pataki in 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." That is, to include the domestic partner as eligible for benefits under the "September 11 Victim Compensation Fund." I believe that it is important that compensation be offered to all of those who lost family members, including those who lost their life partners as well as de facto parents or children, without regard to sexual orientation or marital status. Sincerely, Individual Comment St. Petersburg, FL 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 dojA000945.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. Saturday, January 26, 2002 11:20 AM (no subject) To Whom it May Concern, I think the families of the victims from 911 should stop whining and count their blessings. My husband -a Vietnam war veteran- who knowingly went to war to defend this great nation with the knowledge he might die- is now waiting -9 months I might add- to find out if he WILL be compensated for a related ilness he has from going to Vietnam. Not WHEN BUT IF he will be compensated. We have worked all our lives to be able to retire and hopefully live in peace together. Now we have used our savings and mortgaged our home to the hilt because he is off work and we are spending everything we have to keep our heads above water. We have gotten no special treatment-no one is willing to help with our house payments- or pay our bills- until we get back on our feet! We must pay or be out on the street. We are losing the battle- so don't expect us to feel sorry for someone who is getting a 1.4 million payoff for the loss of a loved one. If my husband died today from his disease I would get NOTHING except bankrupt! Thank You. Individual Comment September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-01-26 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 dojP000157.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. 2002-01-26 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. Wednesday, December 19, 2001 9:51 AM Equal Compensation is only fair 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 Westmoreland, NY 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 dojA002902.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 5:19 PM prejudice of gays and lesbians, 9/11 Bush is preaching for Americans to accept their neighbors and stop hating and hurting others because they are different. This applys to all humans, gay or straight. I think it is very wrong to deny partners of gay or lesbians of their rights as human beings, especially in light of the 9/11 situation. Give the gay and lesbian partners their due from the funds. They are human beingswith the right to be accepted even though they may be different. Individual Comment 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 dojR001120.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. Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 8:46 AM 9/11 fund to our heroes I am grateful that I can point to ordinary people as heroes. Who better to hold as example of heroic behavior that those who did nothing more than climb on a plane to travel home, to travel on a vacation, to travel for business and become part of the worst terrorist attack in history? I am grateful, too, that I now can point to something so public and say this is the reason we need laws to protect gays and lesbians. The only class not protected by law will not receive the same as the others. They are all heroes, but deserve has nothing to do with it. Now when someone asks me why gays and lesbians need special laws, I can point to this blatant example of injustice. Why do we need laws protecting the rights of gays and lesbians? We need laws because we fail at fairness for all! Christian Disciple of Christ Teacher/writer Individual Comment 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 dojR000055.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, November 13, 2001 1:21 PM Comments on regulations RE: CIV 104P; AG Order No. RIN: 1105-AA79 September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 Dear Mr. Zwick: We are writing because we are concerned about the proposed regulation that will affect how victims of the September 11 tragedy will be compensated. While we WILL NOT benefit from this regulation, we do have a relative whose husband was killed in the WTC. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the process implied by the Advance Notice of Rulemaking is written by lawyers for lawyers. It is virtually impossible for the families of those lost in the September 11th tragedy to determine: * * How the process will work, * * Whether it be will fair and equitable, * * What the compensation level might be, * * How much expense for lawyers, accountants, and other experts will have to be incurred (and carried) while the claim is being processed, * * What is meant by ?Collateral Sources?, * * What is meant by ?Non-Economic Losses?, * * How much time (away from work and family) will be involved in filling out forms and attending hearings, * * How hearing officers will maintain any level of consistency as they deal with 3,000 to 5,000 claims in ?120 days?, and * * How to deal with an array of other complex issues. In short, the initial direction and thrust of these regulatory issued, as outlined in this document, does not provide us with the information needed to see how the families will be dealt with. The crazy procedures and, in many cases, lack of action by the 160, or so, charities and State and local governments has given us no hope of a commonsense-based process from the Federal government. Here are issues that I wish to comment on, at this time: 1. This process that is alluded to in this document is way too complicated, and will, in my opinion produce vast inconsistencies and inequities due to the wide range of highly subjective information (such as non-economic losses and collateral sources). 2. Existing information should be used. The government knows how much all of the victims made and their ages (IRS and Social Security files). This should aid in the process being more objective and less inconsistent. 3. Section 405(a): Various State and local government agencies have already determined the status of the victims. Death Certificates have been issued. Lists have been compiled. Don?t make anyone start from scratch. DOJ should start by contacting the families with what is already known. If someone feels forgotten, then they can step forward. 4. Forms should be filled out by DOJ before the first contact, and then request corrections, if any, concerning names, addresses, phone, SS#s, recent earning levels, victim status, etc. 5. Section 405(b)(3): The Special Master is supposed to ?make final decisions on claims within 120 days of the date of filing.? If a victim?s family filed on December 22, 2001, it is UNLIKELY that their ?collateral sources will be complete or known.? Their economic and non-economic losses may also NOT be complete. Given the extremely slow and confusing performance of many charities and State/local government agencies concerning this matter, the Special Master will be forced to render a decision on the claims before all data is known. 6. If the Special Master decides to hold up a decision on these claims (that are filed early) to determine what other ?collateral sources? may be forthcoming, this process could take a very long time. Those who wait longer to file, may be penalized because they would have collected more from charities at the time of filing. 7. Instead of rejecting claims that are not properly filed, why doesn?t the DOJ or Special Master ASSIST families in completing this process? This fund has been established to ASSIST these families. Why not treat them as CLIENTS, and not people that have a ?burden of proof? to overcome? 8. The discussion concerning ?hearings?, ?types of hearings?, ?representatives at hearing?, ?hearing officers?, and ?hearing documents? point toward a process that will reward those that have the best lawyers and accountants. 9. Having all these hearings (because the process is so complicated) also seems to point to a wide range of potential inconsistencies. If there are 1,000 cases to be handled in the first 120 days (referred to in this document) and each ?hearing officer? could handle one case every two days (optimistically, one for hearing and one for decision and documentation), then there will have to be at least 17 hearing officers. If cases take 3 days, 25 hearing officers will be needed. And, if they don?t work on weekends, then 34 hearing officers will be needed. If more than 1,000 cases are filed at any one time, then even more hearing officers will be needed. How will all of these hearing officers maintain strict consistencies amongst all of the cases? A less complicated and subjective process will solve these potential problems. 10. If these hearings and assistance for those filing claims is not convenient, it will favor those that have resources and flexibility (time off work and away from family) to travel to a remote location. Hearings (if necessary) and assistance should come to the families. 11. Families may benefit from newsletter, web sites, and toll-free numbers, but DOJ must understand that most of the victims? families have been filling out forms, making endless phone calls and frustrating visits in order to get ASSISTANCE from charities and State/local agencies since September 11th. These families need PERSONAL, ONE-ON-ONE, ON-SITE HELP. Many of these folks are exhausted. To put them through yet another complex process completely misses the spirit of the Federal Act. Go to the families? home! 12. The entire discussion of fees for lawyers, accountants and other experts may be necessary, but foretells of a process so complicated that all of these folks will be needed. It also foretells of a process where families will get a wide range of expert assistance. Those that have better experts will get more. Potentially, more inconsistencies will be introduced into the process. 13. Encouraging these fees and use of a wide range of experts may also mean that families will have to pay for each expert with a hope of getting paid back four or five months down the road. Many of these families cannot afford to ?spend money in order to get money? from this process. Some are living on charity gifts for day-to-day living expenses. Are they supposed to ask the charities for additional gifts in order to pay for lawyers and accountants, in order to get a fair share of the Federal funds??? DOJ should take the money that they are thinking of using for the ?hearing officers? and use it as ?client assistance managers? to DIRECTLY HELP the families get the help they need, and should make the whole process more consistency. It would also mean that more of the Federal funds will actually go to the families, and NOT TO LAWYERS and others. 14. Section 405(b): Some level of commonsense should rule the question of who is eligible. Families that shared a household should be the baseline status to determine eligibility. If people did not live with the victim AND were not legally related, then they should not be eligible. Just being ?present at? the September 11th locations should not be justification for eligibility. 15. The Special Master should accept the determination of the victims? status and identity ALREADY MADE by the Companies and Governmental agencies that know the situation best. If clarification is needed, then address the exceptions with extra effort. 16. Claims should be filed by each family. That includes all those living in the same household as the victim. No others should be included, with the possible exception of those that can demonstrate a long-term financial dependence on the victim?s income. 17. Section 405(b): In order to get funds out to the families quickly and fairly, a certain amount (say, half) should be divided among the families. Each family to get an equal share (regardless of collateral sources, economic losses, number of family members, etc.). This portion of the funds could be distributed with very little need for additional data other than establishing the victim?s status/identity and link to the claimant. It could be distributed early, and separate from other portions of the program? s funds. 18. The use of a schedule (or hypothetical examples) would be helpful in determining the relative value of this program. The schedule should reflect how each of the Program?s elements is influenced by the factors used to distribute funds. 19. Individual determination of Economic Loss seems subjective and subject to a great deal of interpretation. This may lead to inconsistencies and inequities. A simple schedule or formula should be used whereby the same results can be generated by many people using the same data points for input. Again, fairness and equity is key. It should also be simple to use and understand. There are many examples for how this could work. 20. Specialists should ONLY be used to establish this methodology on a total program basis and NOT ON AN INDIVIDUAL CASE BASIS. 21. The Economic Loss calculation should be based upon the salary level of the victim. 22. Section 402(7): It is impossible to determine the level of ?pain and suffering? based upon the outcome of the tragedy, especially at the World Trade Center. Trying to determine variations in distribution amounts based the location of the victim (prior to the incident) is impossible, and an insult to the families. 23. Spouses of victims should benefit far more than others. 24. Complicated formulas and hypothetical determinations of different amounts for those on the planes versus the Trade Center versus the Pentagon should NOT be used. 25. Everyone and each victim?s family suffered an equal loss. Don?t try to differentiate between those that may have known about the impending disaster before the actual event versus those that may have died immediately. This, too, is insulting to the families, and is impossible to accurately determine. 26. Section 405(b)(6): As stated previously, charitable contributions may most likely not be fully settled by the time the early claims are determined (120 days after filing). Holding up these claims while waiting for the charities, will likely result in a hardship for many families. Therefore, do not consider charitable contributions as part of any collateral sources to reduce the program?s distributions. 27. It is also extremely unfair to penalize families that have saved money over the years and lived within their means. Therefore, do not consider saving accounts and investments as part of any collateral sources to reduce the program?s distributions. 28. It is also extremely unfair to penalize families that have purchased a house in which to live. Therefore, do not consider the value of a primary residence as part of any collateral sources to reduce the program?s distributions. 29. It is also extremely unfair to penalize families that have purchased private insurance policies. They have paid for these policies, and have foregone other advantages because of this action. Therefore, do not consider the value of private insurance policies as part of any collateral sources to reduce the program?s distributions. 30. It is also extremely unfair to penalize families that have pensions or insurance from the companies or agencies for which they worked. They have worked for these pensions and insurance as part of their fringe benefits (like vacation or sick leave). Therefore, do not consider the value of company or agency pensions or insurance as part of any collateral sources to reduce the program?s distributions. 31. Collecting a whole array of data on or getting appraisals on home values, cars, and other personal belongings will cost a tremendous amount of money, take much time, create inconsistencies, and penalize families for what they have worked for over the years. 32. The Program?s objective is NOT to ?make everyone equal? in terms of their income status. It is, in my opinion, to be fair and equitable to all the victims? families. 33. Trying to account for ?future collateral sources? is subjective, speculative, and tries to value sources that may never (fully) materialize. I am extremely disheartened with the way these regulation and Program procedures seem to be heading. Based on the overlapping and endless bureaucracy that the families have been put through from the 160 different charities, State agencies, and local governments, we need something simple, fair and understandable. Here is what I would suggest: 1. 1. Half the funds to be divided equally among the victims? families, with distributions to be made quickly. Only the victims? immediate household should be counted as the ?family.? No extended family members should be counted unless they are on the most recent IRS tax return as a dependent. 2. 2. One sixth of the funds to be divided based on economic loss, linked to the victim?s recent earning history. It should not be based on need or number of family members. 3. 3. One sixth of the funds to be divided based on non-economic loss divided among the family members with the majority of the funds going to the spouse of the victim. 4. 4. One sixth of the funds to divided equally to all of the victims households and reduced, if appropriate, by collateral sources, NOT including: a. a. Charity distributions b. b. Private insurance c. c. Company insurance d. d. Company pensions e. e. Home value f. f. Personal property g. g. Saving and investment accounts. 5. 5. Families should NOT be treated a claimants that have the ?burden of proof? to overcome. 6. 6. Families need one-on-one assistance, not endless paperwork and hearings. 7. 7. We should NOT encourage those that have the best lawyers and accountants to win the most funds. 8. 8. We should use existing data (e.g., tax returns, Social Security data, issued death certificates, etc.). 9. 9. Make this process objective and consistent, so that the results can be reproduced (within a small margin of error) for each family by several people making the same calculation. Use standard schedules and understandable formulas. 10. 10. Multiple hearings and hearing officers will, in my opinion, result in inconsistencies. Sincerely, Individual Comment Corona, CA September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-11-13 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 dojW000336.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. 2001-11-13 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, March 21, 2002 4:07 PM PROTEST OF 9/11 FUND EXCLUSION Please reconsider your exclusion of the gay partners of our gay heroes. If September 11 has taught us anything, it's that our patriotism and love of country transcend our differences and unite us all. In the name of , and many, many more... gay partners should receive the same benefits as heterosexual spouses. Individual Comment September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-03-21 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 dojR002553.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. 2002-03-21 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 13, 2001 Special Master Kenneth R. Feinberg September 11th Victim Compensation Fund U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530 To Mr. Feinberg: I am writing to urge you to ensure fair treatment for all surviving families of the tragedy on September 11th, including the children and families of low-wage workers and gay and lesbian families. Under traditional rules based on lost wages, the survivors of a bond trader earning millions of dollars per year might receive thousands of times as much compensation as the survivors of a dishwasher in one of the restaurants destroyed. Justice requires looking far beyond the last paycheck to the inherent worth of all those killed, so that a high minimum compensation level is set to lessen the disparities. It would be a double blow to the survivors to first lose their loved one and then watch as most of the taxpayer money went to those who were already well off in the first place. The second major issue has to do with recognizing the legitimacy of gay and lesbian relationships and families. Gay and lesbian families are especially vulnerable when one partner is killed. Because the option of marriage is unavailable, these families may find themselves in the traumatic predicament of having to prove that their union is legitimate. Fortunately both the Red Cross and the State of New York have already announced that they will not discriminate against gay and lesbian families. The Department of Justice should do the same. Thank you for considering my comments. I look forward to hearing how you will act on these very important issues. Sincerely, Individual Comment Portland, OR September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2001-12-13 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 dojA003261.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. 2001-12-13