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 8:19 AM Gay & Lesbian Victims - Distribution of compensation. The provisions of the Fund make it clear that compensation will be awarded in accord with an individual's will. Therefore, if a gay or lesbian has drafted a will, the compensation may be directed to a partner or otherwise. If the decedent did not have a will, the laws of intestacy are to apply. This means that children, parents and siblings all stand to receive compensation rather than the partner. The simple application of the laws of intestacy should not be applied. The Fund should recognize relationships that are not recognized by law. Perhaps a partner who can show that a relationship has existed for a minimum of 3 years (or 5, 7 years) he or she should become the prima facie "beneficiary." Note: Heterosexuals may marry or if living together for a certain period of time, assert "common law marriage." Gays do not have either. The need for this type of language is obvious. Without it, the beneficiary under the intestacy laws will claim the award and obviously be the recipient. This is not the purpose of the fund. THE FUND IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO THE VICTIM'S FAMILY. Because of the conservative agenda, gays and lesbians have no "family." The Fund should make it clear that gay and lesbian partners will or may receive funds. AS AN ATTY., IF A GAY CLIENT CAME TO ME TO ASK WHETHER HE OR SHE SHOULD INITIATE A PROCEEDING TO OBTAIN THE COMPENSATION (RATHER THAN THE PARENTS) I WOULD ADVISE THEM NOT TO WASTE THEIR TIME. FEINBERG'S COMMENTS TO THE CONTRARY DO NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE CLEAR LANGUAGE OF THE STATUTE STATES THAT THE FUND IS DISTRIBUTED ACCORDING TO THE STATE LAWS OF INTESTACY. This is a serious problem that may lead to an inequitable result. The interim rule should be amended to address these concerns. Thank you, Individual Comment Alexandria, VA 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 dojN000652.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