Senator Clinton: Applications for 9/11 Heroes Stamp Proceeds now Being Accepted
Senator Clinton: Applications for 9/11 Heroes Stamp Proceeds now Being Accepted
Despite delays, funds will now be distributed to families of emergency relief personnel killed or permanently physically disabled while serving in the line of duty after the September 11th attacks
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened the application period to those eligible to apply for funds raised from the sale of the 9/11 Heroes Stamp. Senator Clinton, who helped establish the stamp in honor of those who put their lives on the line following the September 11th attacks, has been pushing the Department of Homeland Security to release the funds.
"While I remain disappointed that it has taken the Department of Homeland Security so long to make this funding available to our 9/11 heroes, I am pleased that they are finally starting to take applications," Senator Clinton said. "We created the 9/11 Heroes Stamp, not only to honor those men and women who rushed in to help on that fateful day, but to provide help to those who were forever impacted by their brave actions. The proceeds from these stamps are a tribute to our heroes and I am pleased that they and their families may finally be able to access these funds."
Senator Clinton was an original co-sponsor of the legislation which directed the USPS to issue a semipostal stamp and distribute the proceeds through the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency to the families of emergency relief personnel killed or permanently disabled on 9/11. Proceeds from the sales of the stamp totaled $10.5 million, however when Senator Clinton and her colleagues in Congress discovered that there had been delays in making the funds available, she pressured the Department of Homeland Security to begin releasing the funds.
Application forms are available at www.usfa.fema.gov or by calling 1-866-887-9107 (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST) or emailing FEMA-HeroesStamp@dhs.gov. Applicants must send their completed application form with accompanying documentation to: Heroes Stamp
U.S. Fire Administration National Emergency Training Center
16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
Applications must be received by April 3, 2006.
Eligible applicants are families of emergency relief personnel killed or permanently physically disabled while serving in the line of duty in connection with the terrorist attacks of Sep. 11, 2001. The funds will be distributed on a rolling basis in the coming months.
A semipostal stamp is sold for a value greater than that of a regular first class stamp. The proceeds from the price differential fund the grants provided for in the Act, after appropriate deduction for reasonable costs of producing and distributing the semipostal stamps. The USPS issued the Heroes semipostal stamp in June 2002 and discontinued selling the stamp on Dec. 31, 2004.
http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=249470&&