Washington, DC -- Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and twelve of his colleagues introduced the Fairness for 9/11 Families Technical Fix Act, a bipartisan bill that will amend current law to mandate rules for payments to Havlish Settling Judgement Creditors to ensure that these victims are awarded the funds they deserve.
"While no amount of money will ever fill the void of losing a loved one, all of the families of the victims of September 11th deserve to fully participate and receive their due benefits from the Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism (VSST) Fund,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “By correcting an oversight made in the ‘Fairness Act’ that was passed in haste last year, our bipartisan Fairness for 9/11 Families Technical Fix Act would provide legal equity to those 9/11 families left behind, the Havlish plaintiffs. Providing them with the same kind of exemptions given to other victims of state-sponsored terrorism will ensure that they receive the financial relief that all victims of state sponsored terrorism deserve.”
“Far too many of those families who lost their loved ones on September 11th remain left behind by legislative oversights made in the eleventh hour,” said Ellen Saracini, widow of Captain Victor J. Saracini, United Flight 175. “The Fairness for 9/11 Families Technical Fix Act will allow those families to access the Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism (VSST) Fund payments already conditionally allocated to them. I encourage all Members of Congress to join Representative Fitzpatrick in this bipartisan and commonsense effort to ensure that the Havlish plaintiffs are provided relief and permitted to fully partake in the VSST Fund.”
“The Fairness for 9/11 Families Act is a testament to how Congress can come together from both sides of the aisle to never forget those we lost on 9/11 and to provide much needed support to those who continue to live with immense pain and grief,” said Congressman Gottheimer. “This is a critical step to ensure that those who suffered unimaginable loss receive the resources they deserve, but it also reminds us that Congress still has more work to do to ensure that every 9/11 family receives the support they rightfully deserve.”
Read the text of the bill HERE.
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