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").
The head of the Office shall be the Ombudsman. The individual serving as Ombudsman shall be either of the following:
The duties of the Office shall be as follows:
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.
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.
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.
42 U.S.C. § 7385s-15
EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS2021-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.)."
- Secretary
- The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.1See References in Text note below.