March 28, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 54 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H2900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CLARIFICATION OF GRADE AND PAY OF PODIATRISTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                            VETERANS AFFAIRS

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of the 
bill (S. 863) to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the 
grade and pay of podiatrists of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 
ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 863

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CLARIFICATION OF GRADE AND PAY OF PODIATRISTS OF 
                   THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Grade.--The list in section 7404(b) of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``PODIATRIC SURGEON (DPM)'' and inserting 
     ``PODIATRIST''; and
       (2) by inserting after the item relating to ``Physician and 
     surgeon grade.'' the following new item:

       ``Podiatrist grade.''.

       (b) Pay.--
       (1) In general.--Section 7431 of such title is amended--
       (A) by striking ``physician and dentist'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``physician, podiatrist, and dentist'';
       (B) by striking ``physicians and dentists'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``physicians, podiatrists, and 
     dentists'';
       (C) by striking ``physician or dentist'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``physician, podiatrist, or dentist'';
       (D) by striking ``physicians or dentists'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``physicians, podiatrists, or 
     dentists'';
       (E) by striking ``Physician and Dentist'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``Physician, Podiatrist, and Dentist''; 
     and
       (F) in subsection (e)(1)(A), by inserting ``podiatrists 
     and'' before ``dentists.''.
       (2) Administrative matters.--Section 7433 of such title is 
     amended by striking ``physicians and dentists'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``physicians, podiatrists, and 
     dentists''.
       (3) Conforming amendment.--The heading of subchapter III of 
     chapter 74 of such title is amended by inserting ``, 
     PODIATRISTS,'' after ``PHYSICIANS''.
       (4) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 74 of such title is amended by striking 
     the item relating to subchapter III and inserting the 
     following new item:

   ``subchapter iii--pay for physicians, podiatrists, and dentists''.

       (5) Technical amendment.--Section 7433 of such title is 
     further amended--
       (A) by striking subsection (b);
       (B) in subsection (a)--
       (i) by striking ``(1) The Secretary'' and inserting ``The 
     Secretary''; and
       (ii) by redesignating paragraph (2) as subsection (b); and
       (C) in subsection (b), as so redesignated--
       (i) by striking ``In prescribing'' and inserting 
     ``Recommendations and Views.--In prescribing''; and
       (ii) by striking ``this paragraph'' and inserting ``this 
     subsection''.

  The bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the third 
time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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