Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3489
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-06: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-26T16:33:46Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act," aims to formally recognize and standardize the roles of therapeutic medical physicists (experts in radiation therapy for cancer treatment) and diagnostic medical physicists (experts in imaging technologies like X-rays and MRIs) within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It ensures these professionals can be hired, qualified, and compensated similarly to other VA medical specialists, addressing potential pay limitations to improve recruitment and retention.
Key Provisions
- Appointment Authority: Adds therapeutic and diagnostic medical physicists to the list of VA positions that can be appointed under federal law (Section 7401 of title 38, U.S. Code).
- Qualification Requirements: Establishes eligibility criteria, including completion of a post-graduate clinical training program approved by the VA Secretary and board certification from an approved body (new paragraphs in Section 7402(b)).
- Pay and Grade Structure: Includes these physicists in the VA's pay system for physicians, podiatrists, and dentists (Sections 7404, 7431, and 7433), allowing them to receive competitive salaries without caps that may apply to other roles. This also updates personnel administration rules (Section 7421(b)) to cover them.
- Reporting Requirement: Mandates the VA Secretary to submit a report to Congress within one year of enactment, detailing the effects of pay increases on full-time VA employees, contract providers, and overall departmental costs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the VA's statutory framework (title 38, U.S. Code) to explicitly include therapeutic and diagnostic medical physicists, who were previously not codified in key sections on appointments, qualifications, grades, and pay.
- Redesignates and inserts new paragraphs in multiple sections to integrate these roles alongside established professions like physicians and podiatrists, effectively removing pay restrictions and aligning their compensation with market rates for specialized medical roles.
- Updates chapter headings and tables of contents for clarity and consistency.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA may see improved ability to hire and retain specialized physicists, potentially enhancing radiation therapy and diagnostic services in veterans' hospitals. This could increase operational costs due to higher salaries but reduce reliance on external contractors.
- On Citizens: Veterans receiving care through the VA could benefit from more consistent access to advanced medical physics expertise, leading to safer and more effective treatments for conditions like cancer.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic VA operations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Primary beneficiary and implementer, gaining tools to build its workforce.
- Therapeutic and Diagnostic Medical Physicists: VA employees and contractors who will have clearer career paths, standardized qualifications, and potentially higher pay.
- Veterans and Their Families: As patients relying on VA healthcare services that involve medical physics.
- Congressional Committees on Veterans' Affairs: Involved in oversight through the required report.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens VA hiring authority under title 38 by codifying roles, reducing ambiguity in appointments and pay, which could minimize future legal challenges related to compensation equity.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; aligns with Congress's power to regulate federal agencies and provide for veterans' welfare under Article I.
- Political: Supports bipartisan efforts (introduced by representatives from both parties) to modernize VA staffing amid ongoing concerns about healthcare workforce shortages; the reporting requirement ensures accountability without mandating new funding.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-06: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 2025-05-19: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-05-19: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act — issued 2025-05-19 — PDF (5 pages)