The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) applies with respect to disability or death resulting from injury, as defined by section 2(2) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 902(2)), occurring to an employee of a nonappropriated fund instrumentality described by section 2105(c) of this title, or to a volunteer providing such an instrumentality with services accepted under section 1588 of title 10, who is—

(1) a United States citizen or a permanent resident of the United States or a territory or possession of the United States employed outside the continental United States; or

(2) employed inside the continental United States.

For the purpose of this subchapter, the term “employer” in section 2(4) of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 902(4)) includes the nonappropriated fund instrumentalities described by section 2105(c) of this title.

The Secretary of Labor may—

(1) extend compensation districts established under section 39(b) of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 939(b)), or establish new districts to include the areas outside the continental United States; and

(2) assign to each district one or more deputy commissioners as the Secretary considers advisable.

Judicial proceedings under sections 18 and 21 of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 918 and 921) with respect to an injury or death occurring outside the continental United States shall be instituted in the district court within the territorial jurisdiction of which is located the office of the deputy commissioner having jurisdiction with respect to the injury or death.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 555; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title X, §§ 1061(c), 1070(d)(8)(A), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2847, 2858; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, § 1505(b)(1), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 514.)