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News

Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Special Master on the 21st Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks

September 9, 2022
Dear Friends, The anniversary of the September 11th attacks is always a time for reflection.  For me personally, this is the first anniversary since being appointed earlier this year as the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund’s (“VCF”) interim Special Master.  Despite my relatively short time in this role, I have been touched by the stories in each claim I have reviewed, and deeply impressed by the perseverance, resilience, and humility of the community our team serves.  Today, we continue to pay tribute to the lives lost and the community that came together during the recovery efforts in response to one of our country’s hardest challenges.
Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Special Master – Rupa Bhattacharyya Farewell

April 29, 2022

Dear Friends,

Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Incoming Special Master - August Flentje named Special Master for an interim period

April 29, 2022

It is an honor to step into the role of Special Master on an interim basis while the process to identify Rupa Bhattacharyya’s permanent successor is identified.  I have been a career civil service attorney with the Department of Justice since 1998, and have managed several Civil Division components for temporary periods, including the branch that has responsibility over the operations of the VCF.  In that capacity, I’ve worked with Rupa to help address issues that arise in the management of the VCF and am familiar with its functions and operation.  I look forward to working with the VCF aga

Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Special Master – Kimberly (Kim) C. Brown Joins the VCF as the Director of Operations

February 24, 2022

Kimberly (Kim) C. Brown has joined the VCF as the Director of Operations. In this new position, Kim will focus on overseeing the VCF’s day-to-day operations in areas such as the Helpline and the processing of hard copy mail, identifying opportunities for innovation as the VCF continues to move into its long-term status stemming from the passage of the VCF Permanent Authorization Act.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Special Master - Tenth Annual Status Report

February 9, 2022

The VCF successfully navigated another highly productive year in 2021, in a year that saw not one but two significant anniversaries: the 10th anniversary of the passage of the Zadroga Act, which created in the VCF, in January, and then the solemn reminder months later that twenty years have passed since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Special Master - Ninth Annual Status Report

February 16, 2021

While it is impossible to review the past year without mention of the enormous challenges presented by COVID-19, and its particularly severe impact on the 9/11 community, I am proud to report that the VCF’s work on their behalf continued with almost no disruption throughout 2020.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Special Master on the Tenth Anniversary of the Signing of the Zadroga Act

January 4, 2021
Ten years ago, on January 2, 2011, President Obama signed into law the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, which established the World Trade Center Health Program and reactivated the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).
Messages from the Special Master

Message from Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya - Deputy Special Master Jordana (“Jordy”) Feldman departs VCF.

November 21, 2019

Dear Friends,

It is with regret and pride that I announce that Deputy Special Master and Director of the New York Office, Jordana (“Jordy”) H. Feldman, has left the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund ("VCF") to accept a position to design and administer a proposed claims resolution program intended to help victims of sexual assault resolve their claims through a confidential, non-adversarial alternative to litigation.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya

September 6, 2019

Dear Friends

Today’s program statistics report for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”) reflects steady progress: as of August 31, 2019, we have made awards to 23,850 individuals, some more than once due to an amendment or appeal, totaling almost $5.6 billion in awards.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya

July 29, 2019

Dear Friends,

On July 29, 2019, President Trump signed into law H.R. 1327, The Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund ("VCF"). The VCF Permanent Authorization Act extends the VCF’s claim filing deadline from December 18, 2020, to October 1, 2090, and appropriates such funds as may be necessary to pay all approved claims.

Messages from the Special Master

Special Master Congressional Testimony

June 12, 2019

On June 11, 2019, the Special Master testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on The Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties with regard to H.R. 1327, legislation to permanently extend authorization for the VCF. View her full testimony.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya

February 15, 2019
Today, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF” or “Fund”) publishes its Seventh Annual Status Report and the Third Annual Reassessment of Policies and Procedures required under the terms of the Reauthorized Zadroga Act, Pub. L. No. 114-113 (Dec. 18, 2015).
Messages from the Special Master

A Message from Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya

October 2, 2018

Dear Friends,

When Congress reauthorized the VCF in 2015, it extended the time for individuals to submit new claims – as well as amendments on existing claims – until December 18, 2020. The Reauthorization Act also directed me, as the Special Master, to periodically reassess the VCF’s policies and procedures to make sure that we prioritize claims for individuals who suffer from the most debilitating physical conditions, and that we do not exceed the $7.375 billion in funds appropriated to the VCF.

Messages from the Special Master

A Message from Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya

July 24, 2018

Dear Friends,

When I stepped into the role of Special Master two years ago, I was focused on our number one priority: to process and pay claims with thoughtful consideration and without unnecessary delay. Although I knew there were challenges ahead, I was eager to build on the progress the VCF team had made since the passage of the Zadroga Act in 2010 and its reauthorization in December 2015.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya

May 10, 2018

Dear Friends,

As a team, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”) remains committed to awarding compensation as quickly and fairly as possible, and to handling each claim with the individual attention it deserves. The program statistics report we are issuing today reflects the strong and steady progress of the VCF under its current leadership team.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya

February 13, 2018

Dear Friends

Today, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF” or “Fund”) publishes its Sixth Annual Status Report and the second Annual Reassessment of Policies and Procedures required under the terms of the Reauthorized Zadroga Act, Pub. L. No. 114-113 (Dec. 18, 2015). The report details the activities, advances, and accomplishments of a very productive year at the VCF.

Messages from the Special Master

VCF Leadership Team announcement - Deputy Special Master Deborah Greenspan departs VCF

November 7, 2016

Effective November 3, 2016, Deborah Greenspan concluded her service as Deputy Special Master. Debby was instrumental to the success of the VCF from the time the initial program was enacted in 2001, through the reopening in 2011 and the recent reauthorization in 2015. Over the years, Debby brought her tremendous expertise and commitment to the victims of 9/11 to ensure a claims process that is transparent, equitable, and carefully considers the individual circumstances of each and every claim.

Messages from the Special Master

A Message from Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya

September 9, 2016

Dear Friends,

As we approach the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the work that the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”) has accomplished since its reopening in 2011, and to update you on our plans regarding the work that remains to do.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya - Program Updates

August 24, 2016

Dear Friends,

It has been exactly one month since I officially joined the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”). In that time, I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in the workings of the VCF and begin developing plans for the future so that we can meet the goal of processing claims in a thoughtful way, but without unnecessary delay. I am pleased to report that we are well on our way to meeting the immediate goals that I set when I joined the program last month.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya - Introduction and Program Updates

August 1, 2016

Dear Friends,

Messages from the Special Master

Mensaje del Auxiliar Judicial Rupa Bhattacharyya - Introducción y Actualizaciones del Programa

August 1, 2016

Queridos amigos: 
 

Messages from the Special Master

Wiadomość od Syndyka Rupa Bhattacharyya – Wprowadzenie i aktualizacje programu

August 1, 2016

Drodzy Przyjaciele, 
 

Messages from the Special Master

来自特别监察官 Rupa Bhattacharyya 的消息 - 介绍和项目更新

August 1, 2016

亲爱的朋友们: 
 
自从我开始担任 9/11 受害者赔偿基金(“VCF”)的特别监察官以来,我始终怀着深深的谦卑感。《扎德罗伽法案》于 2010 年通过并在 2015 年 12 月获得再次批准,我非常钦佩 VCF 团队在 Sheila Birnbaum 的坚定带领下所取得的显著进展。我在就任时也清楚意识到继续此项工作的紧迫性,这样才能快速、高效地处理索 赔,为遭受 2001 年 9/11 恐怖袭击的受害者提供全额赔偿。在过去五年中,Sheila 致力于设计、实施并运营一个公正透明的项目,此项目切合索赔者的需求和担忧,我在此对她展现的同情心和所作 的贡献表示感谢。我们现处于过渡阶段,我已向 VCF 员工清晰说明我们的第一要务是处理并支付索赔,与此同时需要考虑周全,并避免不必要的拖延。   我已经详细了解项目的最新进展,并将全力推进项目发展。

接下来,我非常高兴地宣布我们所取得的重大进展。首先,我们在支付 A 组索赔与评估、裁决 B 组索赔方面建立了新的里程碑。

Messages from the Special Master

Attorney General Lynch Names Rupa Bhattacharyya as Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund

July 21, 2016

WASHINGTON – Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch today announced that she has chosen Rupa Bhattacharyya to head the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) after current VCF Special Master Sheila L. Birnbaum steps down later this month. 

Messages from the Special Master

Message from Sheila Birnbaum regarding her departure from the VCF

July 21, 2016

VCF Team, 

It has been a great privilege and honor for me to serve as Special Master of the 9/11 VCF for the last five years.  With all of your steady and devoted hands, the claims process is now wellsettled and proceeding apace, and new procedures have been set up to address the challenges of the recent re-authorization.  I believe it is a good time to step down and hand the reins over to a new Special Master.