U.S. secretary of labor extends operations of EEOICPA ombudsman

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today extended the term of the Office of the Ombudsman for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program until Congress passes legislation to make the office permanent.

The Defense Authorization Act of 2005 created the Office of the Ombudsman for a three-year period to provide information on the benefits available under Part E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) program, and the office was set to expire on October 28, 2007.

The Office of the Ombudsman has dealt with the needs of nearly 4,000 workers who served the nation's nuclear program and keeps the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor and Congress updated on the needs of those affected workers on a regular basis.

The Office of the Ombudsman provides information to claimants, potential claimants and other interested parties on the benefits available under the program and how to obtain those benefits. Annually, the ombudsman issues a report to Congress concerning complaints, grievances and requests for assistance received that year.

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