The

bill will provide compensation to Americans who

were riding with foreign personnel on two U.S.

Army Blackhawk helicopters over Iraq April 14,

1994. Without warning, two U.S. Air Force F-15's

attacked after mistakenly identifying the

helicopters as Iraqi.

In

the wreckage of the two helicopters were found 14

American soldiers, one American Foreign Service

officer, and 11 foreign personnel. Collins

objected to the fact that the U.S. Government

gave $100,000 settlements to the foreign

personnel and none to its own citizens. One

victim, Capt. Patrick McKenna, was from Columbus,

Ga.

"I

worked to support the families of 15 Americans

who made the ultimate sacrifice serving their

country," said the Hampton Republican.

"Rather

than honor the memories of the Americans whose

lives were cut tragically short, our government

has focused its concern and resources on the

foreign victims of the incident."

Collins,

who represents Fayette, added, "The families

of foreign victims of this disaster received not

only great attention and responsiveness from our

government, but also received unprecedented

compensation from the U.S. Treasury. The American

families, whose loved ones sat side by side on

the same humanitarian mission with the foreign

nationals, received no such consideration or

compensation."

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