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S. 863Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)Enacted

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

Sponsored by Bill CassidySen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Introduced March 25, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 3:17 AM UTC

The bill updates the Veterans Affairs (VA) pay system to clearly include podiatrists. It changes the job title from “podiatric surgeon” to “podiatrist,” adds a specific podiatrist grade, and ensures podiatrists are listed alongside physicians and dentists for salary and benefits. The changes affect VA employees who are podiatrists and the VA’s pay administration.

Key Provisions

  • Replaces the term “PODIATRIC SURGEON (DPM)” with “PODIATRIST” and adds a new “Podiatrist grade” to the VA grade list.
  • Amends pay sections (e.g., 7431, 7433) to insert “podiatrist” wherever “physician” and “dentist” appear, so podiatrists receive the same pay rules as those professions.
  • Updates headings, subchapter titles, and the table of contents in chapter 74 to reflect the inclusion of podiatrists.
  • Makes minor clerical and technical edits to align the language and formatting with the new podiatrist references.

Legislative Activity

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13 earlier actions
Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 116-12.

April 8, 2019

View full timeline
SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 25, 2019

SenateFloor

Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1942-1943; text: CR S1942-1943)

March 25, 2019

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

March 26, 2019

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

March 26, 2019 • 1:26 PM

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 26, 2019

HouseFloor

Mr. Takano asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

March 28, 2019 • 11:02 AM

HouseCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 28, 2019

HouseFloor

Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H2900)

March 28, 2019 • 11:02 AM

SenateFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H2900)

March 28, 2019 • 11:02 AM

HouseFloor

On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H2900)

March 28, 2019 • 11:02 AM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

March 28, 2019 • 11:02 AM

President

Presented to President.

April 1, 2019

Became Law

Signed by President.

April 8, 2019

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 116-12.

April 8, 2019

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 863 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat
Mitch McConnell
Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · Mar 25, 2019

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 863. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and…

Record
Mark Takano
Rep. Mark TakanoD-CA-41 · Mar 28, 2019

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…

Record

Bill Text

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Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of America

1st Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen

S. 863

AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the grade and pay of podiatrists of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate