[116th Congress Public Law 12]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 133 STAT. 845]]

Public Law 116-12
116th Congress

                                 An Act


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the grade and pay of 
   podiatrists of the Department of Veterans Affairs. <<NOTE: Apr. 8, 
                           2019 -  [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 <<NOTE: 38 USC 7431 prec.>>  is amended 
        by inserting ``, PODIATRISTS,'' after ``PHYSICIANS''.
            (4) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 74 of such title <<NOTE: 38 USC 7401 
        prec.>>  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--

[[Page 133 STAT. 846]]

                    (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''.

    Approved April 8, 2019.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 863:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 165 (2019):
            Mar. 25, considered and passed Senate.
            Mar. 28, considered and passed House.

                                  <all>