News Release
U.S. Department of
Labor
Employment Standards Administration
Washington,
D.C.
Release Number:
05-301-NAT
The Department of Labor Announces EEOICPA Ombudsman Appointment
WASHINGTON-The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appointment of
Donald G. Shalhoub as the first Ombudsman of the compensation program
created by new Part E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness
Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).
The Fiscal Year 2005 Defense Authorization Act created a system of federal
payments to be administered by the Department of Labor (DOL). The
payments
compensate nuclear workers for occupational illnesses caused by exposure to
toxic substances while working as a contractor or subcontractor employee at
a Department of Energy (DOE) facility. This replaced a previous program
administered by DOE that provided assistance in obtaining state workers
compensation payments.
Under the new legislation, the Office of the Ombudsman, required to be
maintained for a period of three years from enactment of the new
legislation, will provide information to claimants, potential claimants,
and other interested parties on the benefits available under the new
legislation and how to obtain those benefits. Annually, the Ombudsman
will
issue a report to Congress concerning complaints, grievances and requests
for assistance received that year. Congress also required that the
Secretary of Labor ensure the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman
from the program office that administers the EEOICPA.
Shalhoub, a career government attorney, most recently served as deputy
associate solicitor for civil rights in DOL's Office of the Solicitor.
Prior to that, he served as the deputy associate solicitor in the division
that provided legal services to the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration. Shalhoub has an L.L.M. from the Georgetown University Law
Center, a J.D. from Loyola University School of Law and an A.B. from St.
Peter's College.
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