Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2003
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
CIV
(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888

STATEMENT OF ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL ROBERT D. MCCALLUM JR.
FOLLOWING TODAY’S ARGUMENTS IN 9/11 VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND CASE


“The Department of Justice has welcomed the opportunity to describe to the Court the operation of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and to explain the legality of this highly successful and unprecedented program. To date, over 1,500 victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks and their families have filed claims seeking compensation from the Fund. The Fund has provided compensation averaging more than $1.5 million, tax free, per claimant. The highest amounts have exceeded more than $6 million.

“Special Master Kenneth Feinberg, serving without pay since his appointment by the Attorney General in November 2001, has administered the Fund with compassion for the victims and respect for the law that Congress enacted in establishing the Fund. He has spent an extraordinary amount of time meeting with the families of the deceased and the injured victims, to listen to their concerns, hear their claims, and address their needs.

“The Department anticipates that the great majority of victims of the September 11 attacks will enter the Fund before the December 21, 2003 deadline for submitting claims, and looks forward to a speedy resolution of this dispute by the Courts.”

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