Bill to Amend Longshore Act Reintroduced

The Longshore and Harbor Workers Act Amendment of 2011 (S. 669) , sponsored by Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), to amend the federally-administered Longshore Act has been reintroduced in Congress.

Sponsors of the bill said it will benefit injured workers and their employers by applying the best medical treatment and administrative practices from state workers’ compensation programs.

The Longshore Act covers workers in the longshore, shipbuilding, marine construction and other industries and provides medical, physical rehabilitation and wage replacement benefits for their work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths.

The last time the Longshore Act was updated was in 1984. Isakson has been filing similar reform legisaltion since s006.

The bill also has the support of the Coalition for the Longshore Act, the Strategic Services on Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation Association (UWC), the National Association of Waterfront Employers, the American Shipbuilders’ Association, and other maritime employer interests.