Senator protests transfer of DOE employees' compensation program

Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., is challenging Labor Secretary Elaine Chao's proposal to move a compensation program for federal employees who were exposed to nuclear radiation to the Justice Department.

In a letter sent last Tuesday, Thompson said that senators responsible for passing the Energy Employees' Occupational Illness Compensation Program intended to have the Labor Department run it.

"The authors of the amendment, Republican and Democrat, believe that the Department of Labor is uniquely suited to administer the energy employees' program because it has vast experience in helping injured workers and a network of regional offices across the country, where [Labor] claims personnel administer payments for injuries, illnesses and medical benefits related to the workplace," Thompson's letter said. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., sent a similar letter this week.

Thompson also pointed out that Justice officials testified before Congress last year that they had "neither the staff nor the procedures in place to handle a claims program that determines eligibility for medical cost reimbursements."