S. 3771

119 S3771 IS: Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act of 2026
 U.S. Senate
 2026-02-04
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 3771  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   February 4, 2026   Mr. Kaine  (for himself and  Mr. Boozman ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Veterans' Affairs    A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to codify the requirements for appointment, qualifications, and pay for therapeutic medical physicists of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Department of Veterans Affairs Therapeutic Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act of 2026  .
2.
Treatment of therapeutic medical physicists of the Department of Veterans Affairs
(a)
Appointment
Section 7401(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting  therapeutic medical physicists, diagnostic medical physicists,  after  physician assistants, .
(b)
Qualifications
Section 7402(b) of such title is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraph (14) as paragraph (16); and
(2)
by inserting after paragraph (13) the following new paragraphs:
(14)
Therapeutic medical physicist
To be eligible to be appointed to a therapeutic medical physicist position, a person must—
(A)
have completed a post-graduate clinical training program in therapeutic medical physics satisfactory to the Secretary; and
(B)
be board certified in the field of therapeutic medical physics by a certifying body approved by the Secretary.
(15)
Diagnostic medical physicist
To be eligible to be appointed to a diagnostic medical physicist position, a person must—
(A)
have completed a post-graduate clinical training program in diagnostic medical physics satisfactory to the Secretary; and
(B)
be board certified in the field of diagnostic medical physics by a certifying body approved by the Secretary.
 .
(c)
Grade
Section 7404(b) of such title is amended—
(1)
by inserting  THERAPEUTIC MEDICAL PHYSICIST, DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL PHYSICIST,  after  PODIATRIST (DPM), ; and
(2)
by inserting after  Podiatrist grade optometrist grade.  the following:
   Therapeutic medical physicist grade.  Diagnostic medical physicist grade.   .
(d)
Personnel administration
Section 7421(b) of such title is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (11); and
(2)
by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new paragraphs:
(9)
Therapeutic medical physicists.
(10)
Diagnostic medical physicists.
 .
(e)
Pay
(1)
In general
Section 7431 of such title is amended—
(A)
by inserting  , Therapeutic Medical Physicist, Diagnostic Medical Physicist  before  , and Dentist Base  each place it appears;
(B)
by inserting  therapeutic medical physicist, diagnostic medical physicist,  after  podiatrist,  each place it appears;
(C)
by inserting  therapeutic medical physicists, diagnostic medical physicists,  after  podiatrists,  each place it appears; and
(D)
in subsection (e)(1)(A), by inserting  , therapeutic medical physicists, diagnostic medical physicists,  after  podiatrists .
(2)
Administrative matters
Section 7433 of such title is amended by inserting  therapeutic medical physicists, diagnostic medical physicists,  after  podiatrists,  each place it appears.
(3)
Conforming amendment
The heading of subchapter III of chapter 74 of such title is amended by inserting
Therapeutic Medical Physicists, Diagnostic Medical Physicists   after
Podiatrists,  .
(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, Therapeutic Medical Physicists, Diagnostic Medical Physicists, and Dentists
  .
(f)
Report
(1)
In general
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the amendments made by this section.
(2)
Elements
The report required by paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the following:
(A)
The effects of an increase in pay for therapeutic medical physicists and diagnostic medical physicists employed on a full-time basis within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(B)
The effects on therapeutic medical physicists and diagnostic medical physicists who provide care pursuant to an agreement with the Secretary.
(C)
Any change to costs to the Department.