[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 111 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SEPTEMBER 11TH VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND FAMILY BENEFITS FAIRNESS ACT

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                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 4, 2002

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, many of us will travel to New York this 
Friday to pay homage to the victims of last September's terrorist 
attacks. Even more meaningful to the surviving families than traveling 
to New York will be this House's commitment to ensuring that victims' 
families will have the same opportunities they had before their loved 
one was killed.
  After losing their sole source of financial support, many families 
are worried that they won't be able to afford college or stay in the 
neighborhood they have lived in for years. Because of an interpretation 
of the current laws governing the Victim Compensation Fund, the amount 
that each victim's family will receive will be lowered by the amount 
they will get in Social Security survivors' benefits. My legislation, 
the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Family Benefits Fairness 
Act, permits the victims and their families of the terrorist attacks to 
receive the compensation we meant to provide them when we passed the 
Victim Compensation Fund.
  Public support for the victims and their families has been consistent 
and heartfelt. Americans continue to support the families who lost 
their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers or friends. We need to ensure 
that their lives are not further devastated by losing the financial 
position they had before the attack. My legislation shows the victims 
that the United States Congress continues to understand their great 
loss. The bill demonstrates that we are going to treat the families of 
those who died in the attack fairly. We will make sure that the 
children of the victims grow up to be successful with faith that 
American values are unwavering.
  The Victim Compensation Fund must not offset the amount a family 
receives from Social Security. My bill changes the statute to make 
clear that survivors' benefits will not be offset by the Special 
Master. This will help ensure that this terrible loss will not result 
in decreased standards of living or lost opportunities for their 
children.

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