The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (d), is act Mar. 4, 1927, ch. 509, 44 Stat. 1424, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 18 (§ 901 et seq.) of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 901 of Title 33 and Tables.

For definition of Canal Zone, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), (3), see section 3602 (b) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

The Mutual Security Act of 1954, referred to in subsecs. (a)(5) and (e), is act Aug. 26, 1954, ch. 937, 68 Stat. 832, as amended by acts July 8, 1955, ch. 301, 69 Stat. 283; July 18, 1956, ch. 627, §§ 2–11, 70 Stat. 555; Aug. 14, 1957, Pub. L. 85–141, 71 Stat. 355; June 30, 1958, Pub. L. 85–477, ch. 1, §§ 101–103, ch. II, §§ 201–205, ch. III, § 301, ch. IV, § 401, ch. V, § 501, 72 Stat. 261; July 24, 1959, Pub. L. 86–108, § 2, ch. 1, § 101, ch. II, §§ 201 to 205 (a)–(i), (k)–(n), ch. III, § 301, ch. IV, § 401(a)–(k), (m), 73 Stat. 246; May 14, 1960, Pub. L. 86–472, chs. I to V, 74 Stat. 134, which was principally classified to chapter 24 (§ 1750 et seq.) of Title 22, and which was repealed by acts July 18, 1956, ch. 627, § 8(m), 70 Stat. 559; Aug. 14, 1957, Pub. L. 85–141, §§ 2(e), 3, 4 (b), 11 (d), 71 Stat. 356; July 24, 1959, Pub. L. 86–108, ch. II, § 205(j), ch. IV, § 401(1), 73 Stat. 250; May 14, 1960, Pub. L. 86–472, ch. II, §§ 203(d), 204 (k), 74 Stat. 138; Sept. 4, 1961, Pub. L. 87–195, pt. III, § 642(a)(2), 75 Stat. 460; June 30, 1976, Pub. L. 94–329, title II, § 212(b)(1), 90 Stat. 745; Apr. 4, 1996, Pub. L. 104–127, title II, § 228, 110 Stat. 963, except for sections 1754, 1783, 1796, 1853, 1928, and 1937 of Title 22. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1754 of Title 22 and Tables.

Title II of Chapter II of the Mutual Security Act of 1954, referred to in subsec. (a)(5), which was classified generally to sections 1870 to 1876 of Title 22, was repealed by Pub. L. 87–195, Pt. III, § 642(a)(2), Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 460.

Reference to Philippine Islands in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsec. (a) of this section was omitted as obsolete in view of Proc. No. 2695, eff. July 4, 1946, 11 F.R. 7871, 60 Stat. 1352, recognizing the independence of the Philippines and withdrawing and surrendering all rights of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control, or sovereignty now existing and exercised by the United States in and over the territory and people of the Philippines. See note set out under section 1394 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

1984—Subsecs. (a), (d). Pub. L. 98–426 substituted “Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act” for “Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act”.

1961—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 87–195, § 701(1), extended coverage in those cases where the Secretary of Labor, upon the recommendation of the head of any department or other agency of the United States, determines a contract financed under a successor provision of any successor act to the Mutual Security Act of 1954 should be covered by this section.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 87–195, § 701(2), substituted “but not completed on the date of enactment of any successor act to the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended” for “June 30, 1958, but not completed on July 24, 1959”.

1959—Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 86–70, § 40(a), struck out “Alaska;” before “the United States Naval Operating Base”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 86–70, § 40(b), struck out “or in Alaska or the Canal Zone” after “continental United States”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 86–70, § 40(c), added par. (4).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 86–108 provided that the liability under this chapter of a contractor, subcontractor, or subordinate contractor engaged in performance of contracts, subcontracts, or subordinate contracts specified in subsec. (a)(5) of this section, and the conditions set forth therein, shall be applicable to the remaining terms of such contracts, subcontracts, and subordinate contracts entered into prior to June 30, 1958, but not completed on July 24, 1959.

1958—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 85–477, § 502(a)(1), added par. (5).

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 85–608, § 201(a), added par. (6).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–608, § 201(b), inserted “whether or not fixed,” after “any project” and substituted “projects or operations under service contracts and projects in connection with the national defense or with war activities” for “projects in connection with the war effort” in definition of “public work”, and inserted definitions of “allies” and “war activities”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 85–608, § 201(c), substituted “may waive the application of this section with respect to any contract” for “may waive the application of the provisions of subparagraphs (3), (4), or (5) of subdivision (a) of this section, with respect to any contract”, and inserted provisions authorizing the Secretary to waive the application of this section to any employee or class of employees of an employer referred to in paragraph (6) of subsection (a) of this section upon recommendation of the employer.

Pub. L. 85–477, § 502(a)(2), substituted “provisions of subparagraphs (3), (4), or (5)” for “provisions of subparagraphs (3) or (4)”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 85–602, § 201(d), substituted provisions making liability of a contractor, subcontractor, or subordinate contractor inapplicable with respect to persons who are prisoners of war or protected persons and who are detained or utilized by the United States for provisions which made liability inapplicable with respect to employees not citizens of the United States who incurred an injury or death resulting in death subsequent to June 30, 1953.

Pub. L. 85–477, § 502(a)(3), inserted “or any work under subparagraph (5) of subsection (a) of this section” before “shall not apply”.

1953—Subsec. (f). Act June 30, 1953, added subsec. (f).

1942—Act Dec. 2, 1942, amended section generally. Prior to amendment section read as follows: “Except as herein modified, the provisions of sections 901–921, 922–950 of title 33, as amended, and as the same may be amended hereafter, shall apply in respect to the injury or death of any employee engaged in any employment at any military, air, or naval base acquired after January 1, 1940, by the United States from any foreign government or any lands occupied or used by the United States for military or naval purposes in any Territory or possession outside the continental United States, including Alaska, Guantanamo, and the Philippine Islands, but excluding the Canal Zone, irrespective of the place where the injury or death occurs.”

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–426 effective Sept. 28, 1984, see section 28(e)(1) of Pub. L. 98–426, set out as a note under section 901 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.

Section 47(g) of Pub. L. 86–70 provided that: “The amendments in sections 40 and 42 [amending this section and sections 1701, 1704, and 1711 of this title] shall take effect when enacted [June 25, 1959]: Provided, however, That with respect to injuries or deaths occurring on or after January 3, 1959, and prior to the effective date of these amendments, claims filed by employees engaged in the State of Alaska in any of the employments covered by the Defense Base Act [this chapter] (and their dependents) may be adjudicated under the Workmen’s Compensation Act of Alaska instead of the Defense Base Act.”

Section 402 of Pub. L. 85–608 provided that: “The effective date of this Act [amending this section, sections 1701, 1702, 1704, 1711, and 1716 of this title, and sections 751 and 790 of former Title 5, Executive Departments and Government Officers and Employees, repealing section 801 of former Title 5, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 1701 of this title] is June 30, 1958. Persons are entitled to the benefits of this Act notwithstanding the fact that an injury, disability, or death occurred after June 30, 1958, and before the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 8, 1958].”

Section 5 of act Aug. 16, 1941, as added by Pub. L. 85–608, title II, § 202, Aug. 8, 1958, 72 Stat. 538, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Defense Base Act’.”

Section 701 of Pub. L. 87–195, cited as a credit to this section, was repealed by section 401 of Pub. L. 87–565, pt. IV, Aug. 1, 1962, 76 Stat. 263, except insofar as section 701 affected this section.

For transfer of certain functions insofar as they pertain to Air Force, and to extent that they were not previously transferred to Secretary of the Air Force and Department of the Air Force from Secretary of the Army and Department of the Army, see Secretary of Defense Transfer Order No. 40 [App. A(74)], July 22, 1949.