Defense Base Act — legislation that extends the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act
(LHWCA) to apply to certain categories of employees working overseas. The three
general divisions of covered employees are (1) those working on military bases
acquired from a foreign government after 1940, (2) employees of civilian
contractors and subcontractors engaged in public work projects for the U.S.
government outside the continental United States, and (3) individuals employed
outside the continental United States by a U.S. employer whose purpose it is to
provide welfare or other such services to the Armed Forces as approved by the
secretary of defense.