Clarifying Role of Doctors of Podiatric Medicine in Department of Veterans Affairs

Floor Speech

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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, 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)''.

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Mr. TAKANO. 2545.

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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.

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers and I am prepared to close.

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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.

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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