Who should get Bin Laden bounty money? Some say first responders.

By: NBC | WCBD
Published: May 08, 2011

Now that Osama Bin Laden is dead, what happens to the 50 million dollars in reward money that Congress set up to bring Bin Laden to justice?

Two congressmen from New York City say the bounty money should go to first responders, survivors and victims' families from the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Congressman Anthony Weiner and Jerrold Nadler say Bin Laden's death appears to be the result of good intelligence work, so they are introducing legislation to redirect the bounty to organizations that assist 9/11 families.

"We hope the original purpose of the bounty is used. We hope there are people out there who did give us information and that reward money is granted. We will never know that with absolute certitude except that a portion of the money will be allocated. Obviously we're not going to be announcing in every case who that money is going to go to. However if money is left over and we think there will be, we have some ideas on where it should be spent," Weiner said.

"Widows on Mother's Day... children on Mother's Day today... have no father or mother because of their illnesses they suffered on 9-11 because they died because they came to the aid of this great city and this nation. This money can help so many people and so many families with scholarships, with putting food on tables, to keeping utilities on," John Feal with the Feal Good Foundation said.

The State Department, which controls the 50 million dollar reward fund, has not yet commented on the proposed legislation.