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H.R. 2545House117th Congress (2021-2023)Enacted

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.

Sponsored by Brad R. WenstrupRep. Brad R. Wenstrup (R-OH)
Introduced April 14, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 1:36 AM UTC

The bill updates Veterans Affairs health statutes to clearly define the role of doctors of podiatric medicine within the VA. It creates a Podiatric Medical Director position, a qualified podiatrist who reports to the Under Secretary for Health, and adds podiatry to the list of physicians for pay‑grade purposes. These changes affect VA medical leadership and the compensation structure for podiatrists serving veterans.

Key Provisions

  • Replaces the title “Director of Podiatric Service” with a new “Podiatric Medical Director” role, a qualified podiatric doctor who reports to the Under Secretary for Health.
  • Inserts the new position into the VA leadership list, renumbering existing paragraphs accordingly.
  • Adds “podiatric medicine” to the definition of doctors of medicine in VA staffing provisions.
  • Updates pay‑grade language to include “podiatrists” alongside physicians and clarifies the designation as “PODIATRIST (DPM).

Legislative Activity

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21 earlier actions
Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 117-96.

March 14, 2022

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 14, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

April 14, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

April 14, 2021

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Health Subcommittee

April 15, 2021

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Health Discharged.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 4, 2021

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 4, 2021

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 6.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 4, 2021

HouseFloor

Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

June 15, 2021 • 2:45 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2779-2780; text: CR H2779-2780)

June 15, 2021 • 2:46 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2545.

June 15, 2021 • 2:46 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

June 15, 2021 • 2:49 PM

HouseFloor

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 473, proceedings on H.R. 2545 are considered vacated.

June 15, 2021 • 5:25 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 8 of H. Res. 473, and the motion offered by Mr. McGovern, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 293; H.R. 587; H.R. 610, as amended; H.R. 1144, as amended; H.R. 1703, as amended; H.R. 1921; H.R. 2008; H.R. 2332, as amended; H.R. 2545; and H.R. 3642, as amended.(consideration: CR H2792-2799; text: CR H2797)

June 15, 2021 • 5:25 PM

HouseFloor

Pursuant to section 8 of H. Res. 473, and the motion offered by Mr. McGovern, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 293; H.R. 587; H.R. 610, as amended; H.R. 1144, as amended; H.R. 1703, as amended; H.R. 1921; H.R. 2008; H.R. 2332, as amended; H.R. 2545; and H.R. 3642, as amended. (consideration: CR H2792-2799; text: CR H2797)

June 15, 2021 • 5:25 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

June 16, 2021

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1013)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 7, 2022

SenateDischarge

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1013)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 7, 2022

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

March 7, 2022

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

March 8, 2022

President

Presented to President.

March 11, 2022

Became Law

Signed by President.

March 14, 2022

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 117-96.

March 14, 2022

Floor Debate

6 members

What members said about H.R. 2545 on the floor

3 Republicans3 Democrats
Mark Takano
Rep. Mark TakanoD-CA-41 · Jun 15, 2021

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…

Record
Mike Bost
Rep. Mike BostR-IL-12 · Jun 15, 2021

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…

Record
Charles E. Schumer
Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Mar 7, 2022

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged and the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2545. I ask unanimous consent…

Record
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Rep. Cathy McMorris RodgersR-WA-5 · Jun 22, 2021

Madam Speaker, on June 15, 2022, I voted against bills En Bloc. Had H.R. 610, H.R. 293, H.R. 587, H.R. 1144, H.R. 1921, H.R. 2008, H.R. 2332, H.R. 2545, and H.R. 3642 each received a standalone vote,…

Record
James P. McGovern
Rep. James P. McGovernD-MA-2 · Jun 15, 2021

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 8 of House Resolution 473, I move to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 293, H.R. 587, H.R. 610, H.R. 1144, H.R. 1703, H.R. 1921, H.R. 2008, H.R. 2332, H.R. 2545, and

Record
Show 1 more
Thomas P. Tiffany
Rep. Thomas P. TiffanyR-WI-7 · Jun 15, 2021

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

Record

Bill Text

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Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Seventeenth Congress of the United States of America

At the Second Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-two

H. R. 2545

AN ACT

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.

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).

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.