(a) Administration of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act and
the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act was initially vested
in an independent establishment known as the U.S. Employees'
Compensation Commission. By Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1946 (3 CFR
1943-1949 Comp., p. 1064; 60 Stat. 1095, effective July 16, 1946), the
Commission was abolished and its functions were transferred to the
Federal Security Agency to be performed by a newly created Bureau of
Employees' Compensation within such Agency. By Reorganization Plan No.
19 of 1950 (15 FR 3178, 64 Stat. 1263) said Bureau was transferred to
the Department of Labor (DOL), and the authority formerly vested in the
Administrator, Federal Security Agency, was vested in the Secretary of
Labor. By Reorganization Plan No. 6 of 1950 (15 FR 3174, 64 Stat.
1263), the Secretary of Labor was authorized to make from time to time
such provisions as he shall deem appropriate, authorizing the
performance of any of his functions by any other officer, agency, or
employee of the DOL.
(b) In 1972, two separate organizational units were established
within the Bureau: an Office of Workmen's Compensation Programs (37 FR
20533) and an Office of Federal Employees' Compensation (37 FR 22979).
In 1974, these two units were abolished and one organizational unit,
the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), was established in
lieu of the Bureau of Employees' Compensation (39 FR 34722).
