Part E—Contractor Employee Compensation

§7385s. Definitions

In this part:

(1) The term "covered DOE contractor employee" means any Department of Energy contractor employee determined under section 7385s–4 of this title to have contracted a covered illness through exposure at a Department of Energy facility.

(2) The term "covered illness" means an illness or death resulting from exposure to a toxic substance.

(3) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Labor.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3671], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2178.)

§7385s–1. Compensation to be provided

Subject to the other provisions of this part:

(1) Contractor employees

A covered DOE contractor employee shall receive contractor employee compensation under this part in accordance with section 7385s–2 of this title.

(2) Survivors

After the death of a covered DOE contractor employee, compensation referred to in paragraph (1) shall not be paid. Instead, the survivor of that employee shall receive compensation as follows:

(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the survivor of that employee shall receive contractor employee compensation under this part in accordance with section 7385s–3 of this title.

(B) In a case in which the employee's death occurred after the employee applied under this part and before compensation was paid under paragraph (1), and the employee's death occurred from a cause other than the covered illness of the employee, the survivor of that employee may elect to receive, in lieu of compensation under subparagraph (A), the amount of contractor employee compensation that the employee would have received in accordance with section 7385s–2 of this title if the employee's death had not occurred before compensation was paid under paragraph (1).

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3672], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2178.)

§7385s–2. Compensation schedule for contractor employees

(a) Compensation provided

The amount of contractor employee compensation under this part for a covered DOE contractor employee shall be the sum of the amounts determined under paragraphs (1) and (2), as follows:

(1) Impairment

(A) The Secretary shall determine—

(i) the minimum impairment rating of that employee, expressed as a number of percentage points; and

(ii) the number of those points that are the result of any covered illness contracted by that employee through exposure to a toxic substance at a Department of Energy facility.

(B) The employee shall receive an amount under this paragraph equal to $2,500 multiplied by the number referred to in clause (ii) of subparagraph (A).

(2) Wage loss

(A) The Secretary shall determine—

(i) the calendar month during which the employee first experienced wage loss as the result of any covered illness contracted by that employee through exposure to a toxic substance at a Department of Energy facility;

(ii) the average annual wage of the employee for the 36-month period immediately preceding the calendar month referred to in clause (i), excluding any portions of that period during which the employee was unemployed; and

(iii) beginning with the calendar year that includes the calendar month referred to in clause (i), through and including the calendar year during which the employee attained normal retirement age (for purposes of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.])—

(I) the number of calendar years during which, as the result of any covered illness contracted by that employee through exposure to a toxic substance at a Department of Energy facility, the employee's annual wage exceeded 50 percent of the average annual wage determined under clause (ii), but did not exceed 75 percent of the average annual wage determined under clause (ii); and

(II) the number of calendar years during which, as the result of any covered illness contracted by that employee through exposure to a toxic substance at a Department of Energy facility, the employee's annual wage did not exceed 50 percent of the average annual wage determined under clause (ii).

(B) The employee shall receive an amount under this paragraph equal to the sum of—

(i) $10,000 multiplied by the number referred to in clause (iii)(I) of subparagraph (A); and

(ii) $15,000 multiplied by the number referred to in clause (iii)(II) of subparagraph (A).

(b) Determination of minimum impairment rating

For purposes of subsection (a), a minimum impairment rating shall be determined in accordance with the American Medical Association's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3673], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2179.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A)(iii), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620, which is classified generally to chapter 7 (§301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

§7385s–3. Compensation schedule for survivors

(a) Categories of compensation

The amount of contractor employee compensation under this part for the survivor of a covered DOE contractor employee shall be determined as follows:

(1) Category one

The survivor shall receive the amount of $125,000, if the Secretary determines that—

(A) the employee would have been entitled to compensation under section 7385s–4 of this title for a covered illness; and

(B) it is at least as likely as not that exposure to a toxic substance at a Department of Energy facility was a significant factor in aggravating, contributing to, or causing the death of such employee.

(2) Category two

The survivor shall receive the amount of $150,000, if paragraph (1) applies to the employee and the Secretary also determines that there was an aggregate period of not less than 10 years, before the employee attained normal retirement age (for purposes of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.]), during which, as the result of any covered illness contracted by that employee through exposure to a toxic substance at a Department of Energy facility, the employee's annual wage did not exceed 50 percent of the average annual wage of that employee, as determined under section 7385s–2(a)(2)(A)(ii) of this title.

(3) Category three

The survivor shall receive the amount of $175,000, if paragraph (1) applies to the employee and the Secretary also determines that there was an aggregate period of not less than 20 years, before the employee attained normal retirement age (for purposes of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.]), during which, as the result of any covered illness contracted by that employee through exposure to a toxic substance at a Department of Energy facility, the employee's annual wage did not exceed 50 percent of the average annual wage of that employee, as determined under section 7385s–2(a)(2)(A)(ii) of this title.

(b) One amount only

The survivor of a covered DOE contractor employee to whom more than one amount under subsection (a) applies shall receive only the highest such amount.

(c) Determination and allocation of shares

The amount under subsection (a) shall be paid only as follows:

(1) If a covered spouse is alive at the time of payment, such payment shall be made to such surviving spouse.

(2) If there is no covered spouse described in paragraph (1), such payment shall be made in equal shares to all covered children who are alive at the time of payment.

(3) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection, if there is—

(A) a covered spouse described in paragraph (1); and

(B) at least one covered child of the employee who is living at the time of payment and who is not a recognized natural child or adopted child of such covered spouse,

then half of such payment shall be made to such covered spouse, and the other half of such payment shall be made in equal shares to each covered child of the employee who is living at the time of payment.

(d) Definitions

In this section:

(1) The term "covered spouse" means a spouse of the employee who was married to the employee for at least one year immediately before the employee's death.

(2) The term "covered child" means a child of the employee who, as of the employee's death—

(A) had not attained the age of 18 years;

(B) had not attained the age of 23 years and was a full-time student who had been continuously enrolled as a full-time student in one or more educational institutions since attaining the age of 18 years; or

(C) had been incapable of self-support.

(3) The term "child" includes a recognized natural child, a stepchild who lived with an individual in a regular parent-child relationship, and an adopted child.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3674], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2180.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), (3), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620, which is classified generally to chapter 7 (§301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

§7385s–4. Determinations regarding contraction of covered illnesses

(a) Cases determined under part B

A determination under part B that a Department of Energy contractor employee is entitled to compensation under that part for an occupational illness shall be treated for purposes of this part as a determination that the employee contracted that illness through exposure at a Department of Energy facility.

(b) Cases determined under former part D

In the case of a covered illness of an employee with respect to which a panel has made a positive determination under section 7385o(d) of this title and the Secretary of Energy has accepted that determination under section 7385o(e)(2) of this title, or with respect to which a panel has made a negative determination under section 7385o(d) of this title and the Secretary of Energy has found significant evidence to the contrary under section 7385o(e)(2) of this title, that determination shall be treated for purposes of this part as a determination that the employee contracted the covered illness through exposure at a Department of Energy facility.

(c) Other cases

(1) In any other case, a Department of Energy contractor employee shall be determined for purposes of this part to have contracted a covered illness through exposure at a Department of Energy facility if—

(A) it is at least as likely as not that exposure to a toxic substance at a Department of Energy facility was a significant factor in aggravating, contributing to, or causing the illness; and

(B) it is at least as likely as not that the exposure to such toxic substance was related to employment at a Department of Energy facility.

(2) A determination under paragraph (1) shall be made by the Secretary.

(d) Applications by spouses and children

If a spouse or child of a Department of Energy contractor employee applies for benefits under this part, the Secretary shall make a determination under this section with respect to that employee without regard to whether the spouse is a "covered spouse", or the child is a "covered child", under this part.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3675], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2181.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 7385o of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was repealed by Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3162(i), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2186.

§7385s–5. Applicability to certain uranium employees

(a) In general

This part shall apply to—

(1) a section 5 payment recipient who contracted a section 5 illness through a section 5 exposure at a section 5 facility, or

(2) a section 5 uranium worker determined under section 7385s–4(c) of this title to have contracted a covered illness through exposure to a toxic substance at a section 5 mine or mill,

(or to the survivor of that employee, as applicable) on the same basis as it applies to a Department of Energy contractor employee determined under section 7385s–4 of this title to have contracted a covered illness through exposure to a toxic substance at a Department of Energy facility (or to the survivor of that employee, as applicable).

(b) Definitions

In this section:

(1) The term "section 5 payment recipient" means an individual who receives, or has received, $100,000 under section 5 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210 note) for a claim made under that Act.

(2) The terms "section 5 exposure", "section 5 facility", and "section 5 illness" mean the exposure, facility, and illness, respectively, to which an individual's status as a section 5 payment recipient relates.

(3) The term "section 5 uranium worker" means an individual to whom subsection (a)(1)(A)(i) of section 5 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act applies (whether directly or by reason of subsection (a)(2)).

(4) The term "section 5 mine or mill" means the mine or mill to which an individual's status as a section 5 uranium worker relates.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3676], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2182.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 101–426, Oct. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 920, which is set out as a note under section 2210 of this title.

§7385s–6. Administrative and judicial review

(a) Judicial review

A person adversely affected or aggrieved by a final decision of the Secretary under this part may review that order in the United States district court in the district in which the injury was sustained, the employee lives, the survivor lives, or the District of Columbia, by filing in such court within 60 days after the date on which that final decision was issued a written petition praying that such decision be modified or set aside. The person shall also provide a copy of the petition to the Secretary. Upon such filing, the court shall have jurisdiction over the proceeding and shall have the power to affirm, modify, or set aside, in whole or in part, such decision. The court may modify or set aside such decision only if the court determines that such decision was arbitrary and capricious.

(b) Administrative review

The Secretary shall ensure that recommended decisions of the Secretary with respect to a claim under this part are subject to administrative review. The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for carrying out such review or shall apply to this part the regulations applicable to recommended decisions under part B.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3677], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2182.)

§7385s–7. Physicians services

(a) In general

The Secretary may utilize the services of physicians for purposes of making determinations under this part.

(b) Physicians

Any physicians whose services are utilized under subsection (a) of this section shall possess appropriate expertise and experience in the evaluation and determination of the extent of permanent physical impairments or in the evaluation and diagnosis of illnesses or deaths aggravated, contributed to, or caused by exposure to toxic substances.

(c) Arrangement

The Secretary may secure the services of physicians utilized under subsection (a) of this section through the appointment of physicians or by contract.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3678], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2182.)

§7385s–8. Medical benefits

A covered DOE contractor employee shall be furnished medical benefits specified in section 7384t of this title for the covered illness to the same extent, and under the same conditions and limitations, as an individual eligible for medical benefits under that section is furnished medical benefits under that section.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3679], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2183.)

§7385s–9. Attorney fees

Section 7385g of this title shall apply to a payment under this part to the same extent that it applies to a payment under part B.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3680], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2183.)

§7385s–10. Administrative matters

(a) In general

The Secretary shall administer this part.

(b) Contract authority

The Secretary may enter into contracts with appropriate persons and entities to administer this part.

(c) Records

(1)(A) The Secretary of Energy shall provide to the Secretary all records, files, and other data, whether paper, electronic, imaged, or otherwise, developed by the Secretary of Energy that are applicable to the administration of this part, including records, files, and data on facility industrial hygiene, employment of individuals or groups, exposure and medical records, and claims applications.

(B) In providing records, files, and other data under this paragraph, the Secretary of Energy shall preserve the current organization of such records, files, and other data, and shall provide such description and indexing of such records, files, and other data as the Secretary considers appropriate to facilitate their use by the Secretary.

(2) The Secretary of Energy and the Secretary shall jointly undertake such actions as are appropriate to retrieve records applicable to the claims of Department of Energy contractor employees for contractor employee compensation under this part, including employment records, records of exposure to beryllium, radiation, silica, or other toxic substances, and records regarding medical treatment.

(d) Information

At the request of the Secretary, the Secretary of Energy and any contractor who employed a Department of Energy contractor employee shall, within time periods specified by the Secretary, provide to the Secretary and to the employee information or documents in response to the request.

(e) Regulations

The Secretary shall prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this part. The initial regulations shall be prescribed not later than 210 days after October 28, 2004. The Secretary may prescribe interim final regulations necessary to meet the deadlines specified in this part.

(f) Transition provisions

(1) The Secretary shall commence the administration of the provisions of this part not later than 210 days after October 28, 2004.

(2) Until the commencement of the administration of this part, the Department of Energy Physicians Panels appointed pursuant to part D shall continue to consider and issue determinations concerning any cases pending before such Panels immediately before October 28, 2004.

(3) The Secretary shall take such actions as are appropriate to identify other activities under part D that will continue until the commencement of the administration of this part.

(g) Previous applications

Upon the commencement of the administration of this part, any application previously filed with the Secretary of Energy pursuant to part D shall be considered to have been filed with the Secretary as a claim for benefits pursuant to this part.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3681], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2183.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Part D, referred to in subsecs. (f)(2), (3) and (g), was repealed by Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3162(i), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2186.

§7385s–11. Coordination of benefits with respect to State workers compensation

(a) In general

An individual who has been awarded compensation under this part, and who has also received benefits from a State workers compensation system by reason of the same covered illness, shall receive compensation specified in this part reduced by the amount of any workers compensation benefits, other than medical benefits and benefits for vocational rehabilitation, that the individual has received under the State workers compensation system by reason of the covered illness, after deducting the reasonable costs, as determined by the Secretary, of obtaining those benefits under the State workers compensation system.

(b) Waiver

The Secretary may waive the provisions of subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that the administrative costs and burdens of implementing subsection (a) with respect to a particular case or class of cases justifies such a waiver.

(c) Information

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each State workers compensation authority shall, upon request of the Secretary, provide to the Secretary on a quarterly basis information concerning workers compensation benefits received by any covered DOE contractor employee entitled to compensation or benefits under this part, which shall include the name, Social Security number, and nature and amount of workers compensation benefits for each such employee for which the request was made.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3682], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2184.)

§7385s–12. Maximum aggregate compensation

For each individual whose illness or death serves as the basis for compensation or benefits under this part, the total amount of compensation (other than medical benefits) paid under this part, to all persons, in the aggregate, on the basis of that illness or death shall not exceed $250,000.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3683], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2184.)

§7385s–13. Funding of administrative costs

There is authorized and hereby appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2005 and thereafter such sums as may be necessary to carry out this part.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3684], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2184.)

§7385s–14. Payment of compensation and benefits from compensation fund

The compensation and benefits provided under this subchapter, when authorized or approved by the President, shall be paid from the compensation fund established under section 7384e of this title.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3685], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2185.)

§7385s–15. Office of Ombudsman

(a) Establishment

There is established in the Department of Labor an office to be known as the "Office of the Ombudsman" (in this section referred to as the "Office").

(b) Head

The head of the Office shall be the Ombudsman. The individual serving as Ombudsman shall be either of the following:

(1) An officer or employee of the Department of Labor designated by the Secretary for purposes of this section from among officers and employees of the Department who have experience and expertise necessary to carry out the duties of the Office specified in subsection (c).

(2) An individual employed by the Secretary from the private sector from among individuals in the private sector who have experience and expertise necessary to carry out the duties of the Office specified in subsection (c).

(c) Duties

The duties of the Office shall be as follows:

(1) To provide information on the benefits available under this part and part B and on the requirements and procedures applicable to the provision of such benefits.

(2) To provide guidance and assistance to claimants.

(3) To make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the location of centers (to be known as "resource centers") for the acceptance and development of claims for benefits under this part and part B.

(4) To carry out such other duties with respect to this part and part B as the Secretary shall specify for purposes of this section.

(d) Independent Office

The Secretary shall take appropriate actions to ensure the independence of the Office within the Department of Labor, including independence from other officers and employees of the Department engaged in activities relating to the administration of the provisions of this part and part B.

(e) Annual report

(1) Not later than July 30 each year, the Ombudsman shall submit to Congress a report on activities under this part and part B.

(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall set forth the following:

(A) The number and types of complaints, grievances, and requests for assistance received by the Ombudsman under this part and part B during the preceding year.

(B) An assessment of the most common difficulties encountered by claimants and potential claimants under this part and part B during the preceding year.

(3) The first report under paragraph (1) shall be the report submitted in 2006.

(4) Not later than 180 days after the submission to Congress of the annual report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Congress in writing, and post on the public Internet website of the Department of Labor, a response to the report that—

(A) includes a statement of whether the Secretary agrees or disagrees with the specific issues raised by the Ombudsman in the report;

(B) if the Secretary agrees with the Ombudsman on those issues, describes the actions to be taken to correct those issues; and

(C) if the Secretary does not agree with the Ombudsman on those issues, describes the reasons the Secretary does not agree.

(f) Outreach

The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall each undertake outreach to advise the public of the existence and duties of the Office.

(g) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Ombudsman

In carrying out the duties of the Ombudsman under this section, the Ombudsman shall work with the individual employed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to serve as an ombudsman to individuals making claims under part B.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3686], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, §3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2185; amended Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXI, §3116, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 578; Pub. L. 111–84, div. C, title XXXI, §3142(a), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2715; Pub. L. 113–291, div. C, title XXXI, §3141(b), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3899; Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXI, §3134(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1958; Pub. L. 116–283, div. C, title XXXI, §3145, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4387.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 116–283 struck out subsec. (h) which read as follows: "Effective October 28, 2020, this section shall have no further force or effect."

2019—Subsec. (c)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 116–92, §3134(a)(1), added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (3) and (4), respectively.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 116–92, §3134(a)(2), substituted "2020" for "2019".

2014—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 113–291, §3141(b)(1)(A), substituted "July 30" for "February 15".

Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 113–291, §3141(b)(1)(B), added par. (4).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 113–291, §3141(b)(2), substituted "2019" for "2012".

2009—Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 111–84, §3142(a)(1)–(3), inserted "and part B" after "this part" wherever appearing.

Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 111–84, §3142(a)(4), (5), added subsec. (g) and redesignated former subsec. (g) as (h).

2008—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 110–181 substituted "October 28, 2012" for "on the date that is 3 years after October 28, 2004".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Construction

Pub. L. 111–84, div. C, title XXXI, §3142(b), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2716, provided that: "Except as specifically provided in subsection (g) of section 3686 of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 [42 U.S.C. 7385s–15(g)], as amended by subsection (a) of this section, nothing in the amendments made by such subsection (a) shall be construed to alter or affect the duties and functions of the individual employed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to serve as an ombudsman to individuals making claims under subtitle B of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 7384l et seq.)."

§7385s–16. Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health

(a) Establishment

(1) Not later than 120 days after December 19, 2014, the President shall establish and appoint an Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health (in this section referred to as the "Board").

(2) The President shall make appointments to the Board in consultation with organizations with expertise on worker health issues in order to ensure that the membership of the Board reflects a proper balance of perspectives from the scientific, medical, and claimant communities.

(3) The President shall designate a Chair of the Board from among its members.

(b) Duties

The Board shall—

(1) advise the Secretary of Labor with respect to—

(A) the site exposure matrices of the Department of Labor;

(B) medical guidance for claims examiners for claims under this part with respect to the weighing of the medical evidence of claimants;

(C) evidentiary requirements for claims under part B related to lung disease;

(D) the work of industrial hygienists and staff physicians and consulting physicians of the Department and reports of such hygienists and physicians to ensure quality, objectivity, and consistency;

(E) the claims adjudication process generally, including review of procedure manual changes prior to incorporation into the manual and claims for medical benefits; and

(F) such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate; and

(2) coordinate exchanges of data and findings with the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health established under section 7384o of this title to the extent necessary.

(c) Staff and powers

(1) The President shall appoint a staff to facilitate the work of the Board. The staff of the Board shall be headed by a Director, who shall be appointed under subchapter VIII of chapter 33 of title 5.

(2) The President may authorize the detail of employees of Federal agencies to the Board as necessary to enable the Board to carry out its duties under this section. The detail of such personnel may be on a nonreimbursable basis.

(3) The Secretary may employ outside contractors and specialists to support the work of the Board.

(d) Conflicts of interest

No member, employee, or contractor of the Board shall have any financial interest, employment, or contractual relationship (other than a routine consumer transaction) with any person that has provided, or sought to provide during the two years preceding the appointment or during the service of the member, employee, or contractor under this section, goods or services related to medical benefits under this subchapter.

(e) Expenses

Members of the Board, other than full-time employees of the United States, while attending meetings of the Board or while otherwise serving at the request of the President, and while serving away from their homes or regular places of business, shall be allowed travel and meal expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence (as authorized by section 5703 of title 5) for individuals in the Federal Government serving without pay.

(f) Security clearances

(1) The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that the members and staff of the Board, and the contractors performing work in support of the Board, are afforded the opportunity to apply for a security clearance for any matter for which such a clearance is appropriate.

(2) The Secretary of Energy should, not later than 180 days after receiving a completed application for a security clearance for an individual under this subsection, make a determination of whether or not the individual is eligible for the clearance.

(3) For fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Energy shall include in the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the Department of Energy budget for that fiscal year (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31) a report specifying the number of applications for security clearances under this subsection, the number of such applications granted, and the number of such applications denied.

(g) Information

The Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Labor shall each, in accordance with law, provide to the Board and the contractors of the Board, access to any information that the Board considers relevant to carry out its responsibilities under this section, including information such as Restricted Data (as defined in section 2014(y) of this title) and information covered by section 552a of title 5 (commonly known as the "Privacy Act"). The Secretary of Labor shall make available to the Board the program's medical director, toxicologist, industrial hygienist and program's support contractors as requested by the Board.

(h) Response to recommendations

Not later than 60 days after submission to the Secretary of Labor of the Board's recommendations, the Secretary shall respond to the Board in writing, and post on the public internet website of the Department of Labor, a response to the recommendations that—

(1) includes a statement of whether the Secretary accepts or rejects the Board's recommendations;

(2) if the Secretary accepts the Board's recommendations, describes the timeline for when those recommendations will be implemented; and

(3) if the Secretary does not accept the recommendations, describes the reasons the Secretary does not agree and provides all scientific research to the Board supporting that decision.

(i) Authorization of appropriations

(1) In general

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

(2) Treatment as discretionary spending

Amounts appropriated to carry out this section—

(A) shall not be appropriated to the account established under subsection (a) of section 151 of title I of division B of Appendix D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law 106–554; 114 Stat. 2763A–251); and

(B) shall not be subject to subsection (b) of that section.

(j) Sunset

The Board shall terminate on the date that is 15 years after December 19, 2014.

(Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXVI, §3687], as added Pub. L. 113–291, div. C, title XXXI, §3141(a), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3897; amended Pub. L. 115–91, div. C, title XXXI, §3120, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1892; Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXI, §3134(b), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1959; Pub. L. 118–31, div. E, title LV, §5501(c), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 956.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 151 of title I of division B of Appendix D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, referred to in subsec. (i)(2)(A), (B), is Pub. L. 106–554, §1(a)(4) [div. B, title I, §151], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-251, which is not classified to the Code.

Amendments

2023—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 118–31 substituted "15 years" for "10 years".

2019—Subsec. (b)(1)(E), (F). Pub. L. 116–92, §3134(b)(1), added subpars. (E) and (F).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 116–92, §3134(b)(2), substituted "The Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Labor shall each" for "The Secretary of Energy shall" and inserted at end "The Secretary of Labor shall make available to the Board the program's medical director, toxicologist, industrial hygienist and program's support contractors as requested by the Board."

Subsecs. (h) to (j). Pub. L. 116–92, §3134(b)(3), (4), added subsec. (h) and redesignated subsecs. (h) and (i) as (i) and (j), respectively.

2017—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted "10 years" for "5 years".

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 13699. Establishing the Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health

Ex. Ord. No. 13699, June 26, 2015, 80 F.R. 37529, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291), and to allocate the responsibilities imposed by that Act, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment. There is established within the Department of Labor the Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health (Advisory Board).

Sec. 2. Membership. (a) The Advisory Board shall reflect a proper balance of perspectives from the scientific, medical, and claimant communities.

(b) The Advisory Board shall consist of no more than 15 members to be appointed by the Secretary of Labor in consultation with organizations with expertise on worker health issues. Members shall serve without compensation as Special Government Employees, but shall be allowed travel and meal expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, to the extent permitted by law for persons serving intermittently in the Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701–5707).

(c) The Secretary of Labor shall designate a Chair of the Board from among its members.

Sec. 3. Functions. (a) The Advisory Board shall advise the Secretary of Labor with respect to:

(i) the site exposure matrices of the Department of Labor;

(ii) medical guidance for claims examiners for claims under subtitle E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (EEOICPA) with respect to the weighing of the medical evidence of claimants;

(iii) evidentiary requirements for claims under EEOICPA subtitle B related to lung disease; and

(iv) the work of industrial hygienists, staff physicians, and consulting physicians of the Department of Labor and reports of such hygienists and physicians to ensure quality, objectivity, and consistency.

(b) To the extent necessary, the Advisory Board also shall coordinate exchanges of data and findings with the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health, which was authorized by EEOICPA and established by Executive Order 13179 of December 7, 2000.

Sec. 4. Administration. (a) The Secretary of Labor shall provide the Advisory Board with funding and administrative support, including the appointment of staff and, as the Secretary determines appropriate, authorization for the detail of Federal employees from within the Department of Labor and employment of outside contractors and specialists, to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations. The Secretary also shall perform the administrative functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended ([former] 5 U.S.C. App. 2) [see 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.], with respect to the Advisory Board.

(b) The Secretary of Labor shall designate a senior officer of the Department of Labor to serve as the Director of the staff of the Advisory Board.

Sec. 5. Termination. The Advisory Board shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

Barack Obama.