War Hazards Compensation Reform Act
Sponsored By: Representative Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Introduced
Summary
Holding the federal government financially accountable for WHCA reimbursement delays. This bill would standardize claim paperwork and speed reimbursements under the War Hazards Compensation Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
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- Claimants and beneficiaries: Requires specified documentation and creates a deemed acknowledgment if the Department of Labor’s Division of Federal Employees' Compensation does not respond within 14 days, and it applies interest on late reimbursements starting 60 days after an acknowledgment. It also preserves existing benefit entitlements.
- Insurers and contractors: Prohibits requiring collateral, security, or other financial assurances for WHCA-reimbursable liabilities under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, lowering their costs and administrative burden.
- Agency operations and timing: Requires the Division of Federal Employees' Compensation to hire at least 15 full-time staff and directs the Secretary of Labor to issue implementing and conforming regulations within 180 days to improve processing and reduce backlog.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster reimbursements for injured workers
This bill would require the Labor Department's DFEC to hire at least 15 full-time staff to handle war hazards reimbursement claims. If you file a WHCA reimbursement claim, DFEC would have 14 days to send an acknowledgement or a list of missing items. If DFEC misses that deadline, the claim would be treated as acknowledged on the day DFEC received it, and claims pending on enactment would be treated as acknowledged on the enactment date. If a reimbursement is late, interest would start 60 days after acknowledgement and would use the overpayment rate in the tax code (IRC §6621). The Labor Department would have 180 days after enactment to write rules to implement these changes. Nothing in the bill would reduce or delay benefits under the LHWCA or WHCA or change the United States' obligation to reimburse eligible WHCA claims on time.
No collateral for war-hazard claims
This bill would prohibit the Secretary from requiring an insurance carrier to post collateral, security, or other financial assurance for liabilities tied to WHCA-reimbursable claims. The prohibition would apply on enactment and would operate notwithstanding conflicting provisions of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov