---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7385s"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "7385s"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7385s"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Department of Energy"
  - "Subchapter XVI — Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program"
  - "Part E — Contractor Employee Compensation"
---

# §7385s. Definitions


In this part:

- (1) The term “covered DOE contractor employee” means any Department of Energy contractor employee determined under [section 7385s–4 of this title](/usc/42/7385s–4.md) to have contracted a [covered illness](#2) through exposure at a Department of Energy facility.
- (2) The term “covered illness” means an illness or death resulting from exposure to a toxic substance.
- (3) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Labor.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [div. C, title XXXVI, § 3671], as added Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, § 3161, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2178.)