[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2779-H2780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1445
   CLARIFYING ROLE OF DOCTORS OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE IN DEPARTMENT OF 
                            VETERANS AFFAIRS

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2545) to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the 
role of doctors of podiatric medicine in the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2545

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

[[Page H2780]]

  


     SECTION 1. ROLE OF DOCTORS OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE IN 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Clarification of Role.--Section 7306 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (6), by striking ``a Director of Podiatric 
     Service,'';
       (B) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11); and
       (C) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(10) A Podiatric Medical Director, who shall be a 
     qualified doctor of podiatric medicine and who shall be 
     responsible to the Under Secretary for Health for the 
     operation of the Podiatric Service.'';
       (2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``podiatric 
     medicine,'' after ``doctors of medicine,''; and
       (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``and (8)'' and 
     inserting ``(8), and (10)''.
       (b) Clarification of Pay Grade.--Section 7404 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting ``, podiatrists,'' 
     after ``physicians'' ; and
       (2) in subsection (b), in the first heading of the list 
     following the colon, by striking ``PODIATRIST'' and inserting 
     ``PODIATRIST (DPM)''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 2545.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 2545 to amend title 38, 
United States Code, to clarify the role of doctors of podiatric 
medicine in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
  H.R. 2545 is offered by former Veterans' Affairs Committee member, 
Dr. Brad Wenstrup. This legislation seeks to clarify a technical error 
affecting the Director of Podiatric Services which developed following 
the inclusion of Dr. Wenstrup's VA Provider Equity Act in the MISSION 
Act.
  The renaming of the position to Podiatric Medical Director will 
create equity by allowing this position holder to be paid on par with 
their peers rather than below, which is currently the case.
  If VA is to recruit top talent, we must ensure VA is able to offer 
competitive salaries whenever possible, that is why I support this 
legislation and I hope my colleagues will too.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2545, a bill that 
would clarify the role of podiatrists in the VA health system. 
Podiatrists are increasingly called upon to care for veterans in the VA 
medical facilities.
  This bill would make a technical correction to current law to ensure 
that they are properly compensated for their important work.
  This bill is sponsored by Dr. Wenstrup. Dr. Wenstrup is a veteran, a 
podiatrist, and a former member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I 
am grateful for his continued commitment to those who he serves.
  Madam Speaker, I urge every Member of the Chamber to join me and Dr. 
Wenstrup and the chairman in supporting this bill today, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers and I am 
prepared to close.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I encourage everyone to support this piece 
of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the 
legislation and join me in passing H.R. 2545, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2545.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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