9/11 fund chief: Goal reached as deadline nears
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Kenneth Feinberg
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Relatives of victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks have until midnight Monday to file claims for federal money from the special compensation fund set up by Congress.
Under conditions of the fund, family members who apply for compensation agree not to file any lawsuits related to the attacks. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper spoke Monday with fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg about efforts to reach the survivors.
COOPER: Soon after taking command of this operation, you predicted some 90 percent of the families would ultimately apply. How did you know, and do you think you're going to surpass that 90 percent?
FEINBERG: We have surpassed it over the weekend. We're now at about 92 percent, with one day to go. I anticipated that because of the grief involved with these families so soon after 9/11, that it would take a year and a half or two years before the great majority of them at the eleventh hour would sign up, and that's exactly what is happening.
COOPER: There are some families who are going ahead with lawsuits and some who simply have not filled out the forms. Do you understand why that is?
FEINBERG: Those who are going forward with the lawsuit, and there are only a handful -- about 73 in total -- they have the right do that under the statute. The families that haven't filed, I think it is primarily grief. They tell me when I meet with them, Mr. Feinberg, I cannot put pen to paper. I am paralyzed with grief. It is too soon after 9/11. But I believe we have been successful in reaching most of them.
COOPER: And you're saying now you can fill out just the first two pages of the form by the deadline, and that will be sufficient enough -- is that correct?
FEINBERG: That's correct. I just need the name of the claimant and the name of the victim and get me the first couple of pages -- an address and how we can contact you. That will basically be sufficient to get in under the statutory deadline.
COOPER: A lot of people probably don't realize you are not getting paid for what are you doing. What is it that you have learned most in this entire process?
FEINBERG: The American people. Only in America could there be a program like this. You wouldn't find a program paying an average $1.8 million tax-free to eligible families. This is an unprecedented unique program and exhibits I think the best in the American people.
COOPER: If god forbid there is another incident like this and another fund like this, should something be different? This was never done before. What needs to improve? What have we learned?
FEINBERG: I think this is a precedent. If it happens again, I'm sure Congress will consider it. I think after the program expires -- we'll be processing claims into next year -- we'll step back.
The attorney general has already suggested -- he's been a big supporter of this program -- that I should issue a report to him and to the Congress, and I think Congress will take a hard look at whether the program should be repeated, if necessary god forbid, and what changes should be made in the program.
COOPER: Do you feel a sense of relief as you near this deadline?
FEINBERG: Well, I have a sense of relief that the great majority of families are in the program. I was concerned months ago, when we had less than half of the families signed up, that the program wasn't reaching the grieving. I am now quite relieved as we head down the homestretch here today -- we may get 95 percent of the families, and that is a tremendous, tremendous relief. Not only to me but to everybody who supports the program.
COOPER: There have been some undocumented workers, many who died, and I guess some of their families were reluctant to try to fill out these forms. Have you seen those loved ones coming forward?
FEINBERG: Yes. We have gone into the family areas in New York and Washington, and we have used victim support groups. We have applications in foreign languages. We've met with most of them. I think the great majority of them, like the rest of the families, will file under the deadline.
