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 18, 2001 Kenneth L. Zwick, Director Office of Management Programs U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division Main Building, Room 3140 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20530 Dear Mr. Zwick: On behalf of the 900 synagogues of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, encompassing over 1.5 million people across North America, and the 1800 rabbis of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, I am writing in response to the Justice 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. Our tradition is guided by the very basic belief that all human beings are created b'tselem Elohim (in the Divine Image). It is written in Genesis 1:27,"And God created humans in God's own image, in the image of God, God created them; male and female God created them." We oppose discrimination against all individuals, including gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, for the stamp of the divine is present in each and every one of us. In October, New York Governor George Pataki showed fairness and compassion in issuing an Executive Order granting survivied parents of gay and lesbian victims of the attacks equal benefits from the state's Crime Victims Board. The Commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance indicated that lesbian and gay families will be given consideration when funds are distributed from the state's World Trade Center Relief Fund. Major private relief organizations, including the American Red Cross, the United Way and the Sallie Mae 911 Education Fund, are also granting survivor funds benefits and services to the partners and families of gay and lesbian victims. Many Americans lost their lives on September 11, each of the victims left behind loved ones. I urge you and the Department to follow the examples of the State of New York and many relief organizations by living up to America's highest values - that our government is a government for all Americans - by promulgating regulations which do not discriminate against victims based on their sexual orientation. Sincerely, Comments by: Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Washington DC 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 dojA005444.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