[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 51 (Monday, March 25, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1942-S1943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AMENDING TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE, TO CLARIFY THE GRADE AND PAY OF 
           PODIATRISTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 863.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 863) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
     clarify the grade and pay of podiatrists of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill 
be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER: Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 863) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed 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'';

[[Page S1943]]

       (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''.

     

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