Reps: Give 9/11 families bin Laden reward

NEW YORK, May 9 (UPI) -- Two U.S. congressmen introduced a bill to give a $50 million bounty for Osama bin Laden to the families of victims and survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Democratic Reps. Anthony Weiner and Jerry Nadler of New York told a news conference Sunday at the World Trade Center site in Manhattan their bill directs the bin Laden reward money to families of victims of the attacks, survivors and groups that support them, Politico reported Monday.

Weiner represents New York's 9th Congressional District and Nadler represents the 8th, which includes Ground Zero.

Some reports have suggested the reward might not be paid because bin Laden was killed May 2 in a raid by U.S. forces.

"If the bounty isn't paid, Osama bin Laden's victims should get it," Weiner said. "Families and groups who helped deal with survivors of 9/11 should benefit."

The U.S. State Department offered a $25 million bounty for bin Laden in 2001. In 2004, Sen. Hillary Clinton led an effort to pass a bill giving the secretary of state the authorization to increase the bounty to $50 million. Clinton is now secretary of state.