Malliotakis Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Compensate 9/11 Widows & Children
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), joined by Congresswoman Kathleen Rice (NY-04) and Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), today introduced bipartisan legislation that would appropriate funds to the United States Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSST) to equally compensate widows and dependent children of individuals killed in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
The USVSST was established in 2015 to compensate people injured in acts of international state-sponsored terrorism. Between 2017 and 2020, $3.3 billion in payments were made through the fund, however, certain 9/11 spouses, and dependents only became eligible for the fund in 2019 and were left out of the fund’s first two payments. The group initially excluded has received less than .01 percent of their allocated payments, while other groups in the USVSST have received millions of dollars. Previous payouts have been funded through assets seized from state-sponsored terrorism.
"This year, we will commemorate the 21st anniversary of September 11, 2001,” Malliotakis said. "We made a promise never to forget those who lost their lives on that fateful day and this must also extend to the widows, widowers, and children they left behind. I’m proud to join a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing legislation to correct a solemn wrong and ensure widows and children of 9/11 are not forgotten and are compensated equitably by the USVSST by directly allocating this funding as a catch-up payment for which some were previously excluded. No more political theater, it’s far past time to get this done."
In 2020, Congress passed legislation requiring the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to estimate the amount of "catch-up" payments for newly eligible groups to align with payments that other 9/11 family members had previously received. In direct response to the GAO's study, Malliotakis' legislation would directly appropriate these catch-up payments to the roughly 5,364 victims, spouses, or dependents that were wrongfully excluded from the initial payments made by the fund.
"For over two decades, New York’s congressional delegation has worked together to honor those taken from us on September 11th and care for their survivors," said Rep. Kathleen Rice. "I’m proud to continue that bipartisan work and join my colleagues in introducing this bill, which will ensure that no one who lost a family member that day is arbitrarily denied compensation they deserve."
"Justice delayed is justice denied—and justice has been routinely denied for those most directly impacted by the 9/11 attacks," said Rep. Chris Smith. "Having fought hard with 9/11 widows and family members for their rightful inclusion in the USVSST, we must now ensure that they are not boxed out from due benefits. The Government Accountability Office—the congressional watchdog—concluded that 5,364 9/11 victims, spouses and dependents have been excluded and are owed restitution from the USVSST, which is comprised of assets seized from state sponsors of terrorism to compensate those directly harmed by terrorist attacks. Congress must act now to pass this critical and just piece of legislation, which will finally provide redress for the wives, husbands and children who lost their loved ones on that tragic day."
"There are not enough words to thank Congresswoman Malliotakis for the unwavering support and commitment she has shown to the widows and children of 9/11 who had begun to feel as if we had been forgotten," said Angela Mistrulli, Founder of Kids who Lost Parents on September 11, 2001 Fight for Equality. "I'm hopeful that as we approach the 21st Anniversary of 9/11, every single member of Congress will honor my father's sacrifice and every other innocent American that was murdered on September 11th by signing onto this very important piece of Legislation. This will be a step in the right direction of correcting the harm caused to the widows and children of 9/11 due to their wrongful exclusion from the USVSST."
Last month Malliotakis also called for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) to be fully funded so it is not depleted by 2024, and has cosponsored H.R.4965, the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act, bipartisan legislation that would rectify the funding gap.
Malliotakis' legislation has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee, the committee of jurisdiction, whose Chairman is New York’s Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-10). In order to be brought to the floor for a vote, the Committee must consider the legislation for a hearing and markup.
To learn more about the USVSST, click HERE.