136 STAT. 34 PUBLIC LAW 117–96—MAR. 14, 2022 Public Law 117–96 117th Congress 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. 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 DEPART- MENT 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 Mar. 14, 2022 [H.R. 2545] VerDate Sep 11 2014 11:30 Mar 15, 2022 Jkt 029139 PO 00096 Frm 00001 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6581 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL096.117 PUBL096 dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with PUBLAWS 136 STAT. 35 PUBLIC LAW 117–96—MAR. 14, 2022 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2545: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: Vol. 167 (2021): June 15, considered and passed House. Vol. 168 (2022): Mar. 7, considered and passed Senate. Æ (2) in subsection (b), in the first heading of the list following the colon, by striking ‘‘PODIATRIST’’ and inserting ‘‘PODIA- TRIST (DPM)’’. Approved March 14, 2022. VerDate Sep 11 2014 11:30 Mar 15, 2022 Jkt 029139 PO 00096 Frm 00002 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6580 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL096.117 PUBL096 dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with PUBLAWS