911: Cong'l Reps Tells Ashcroft What "Survivor" Means

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Friday November 16 08:24 PM EST (via Yahoo)

Ashcroft advised on 'survivor' definition
By Tom Musbach, Gay.com / PlanetOut.com Network

SUMMARY: U.S. House members urged Attorney General Ashcroft to
broadly interpret "survivor" eligibility for Sept. 11 relief funds.

Congressman Barney Frank, D-Mass., and a bipartisan group of 44 other
U.S. representatives have sent a letter urging Attorney General John
Ashcroft to broadly interpret "survivor" eligibility when disbursing
Congress-approved relief funds associated with the Sept. 11 attacks.

Since Ashcroft and his staff must determine who qualifies as
"survivors of someone lost in the crashes," as stated in the
legislative measure, the representatives advised him to provide
compensation "to all those who had a close relationship with the
murdered victim and whose own financial position will be seriously
adversely affected by the death."

The decision-making criteria should include, according to the
representatives, shared residences, shared bank accounts, join
membership health plans and shared living expenses.

The letter also reminded Ashcroft that Congress approved funds for
the victims' loved ones without much detail about eligibility because
it was important "to act speedily." It adds that Congress' intention
with the funds was not "to regulate any set of personal
relationships, nor to encourage or discourage people from following
any particular pattern in their living arrangements."

"This (letter) will ensure that a wide variety of valid personal
relationships will be recognized in the distribution of these funds,"
said Rep. Frank, who is openly gay.

Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., and Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., the other openly
lesbian and gay members of the House, also signed the letter.
 
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