I
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2255
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 9, 2007
Mr. Udall of New Mexico (for himself, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Wamp, Mr. Whitfield, and Mr. Hastings of Washington) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 to extend and increase the authority for the ombudsman under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the EEOICPA
Ombudsman Extension and Enhancement Act of 2007
.
Increased authority for ombudsman under Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program
Section 3686 of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 7385s–15) is amended—
by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
Duties
The duties of the Office shall be as follows:
To assist individuals in making claims under this title.
To provide information on the benefits available under this title and on the requirements and procedures applicable to the provision of such benefits.
To act as an advocate under this title in appropriate instances, as determined by the Ombudsman.
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 title.
To carry out such other duties as the Secretary shall specify.
;
in subsection (e)(2), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
Proposed changes in the administrative practices of the Department of Labor to mitigate difficulties identified under subparagraph (B) and potential legislative changes which may be appropriate to mitigate such difficulties.
; and
by striking subsection (g) (establishing a sunset date) and inserting the following:
Contract authority
The Ombudsman shall have authority to hire or contract for any supplies or services including the services of individuals with expertise in relevant disciplines, including health physics, medicine, industrial hygiene, and toxicology, as the Ombudsman may from time to time consider appropriate.
.