Uniformed Services Health Professionals Special Pay Act of 1979

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

11 September 1979

Last action

12 March 1980 · Referred

Status

Veto message from President referred to House Committee on Armed Services.

Summary

Uniformed Services Health Professionals Special Pay Act of 1979 - Provides special and additional pay for physicians in the Armed Forces or the Public Health Service who are on active duty for a period of not less than one year. Sets forth a schedule for such special pay providing that: (1) physicians below pay grade 0-7 are to receive between $1,200 and $10,000 per year based on years of creditable service; and (2) physicians above pay grade 0-6 are to receive $1,000 per year. Entitles a physician eligible for special pay to an additional $10,000 annual payment for any 12-month period during which he or she is not undergoing medical internship or initial residency training. Requires such a physician to agree in writing to remain on active duty for a period of not less than one year in order to receive such $10,000 additional payment. Authorizes additional special pay (from $2,000 to $5,000 based on years of creditable service) for those physicians eligible for special pay who are board certified (under regulations prescribed by this Act). Sets forth a special pay schedule for dentists in the Armed Forces or in the Public Health Service who are on active duty for not less than one year providing that: (1) dentists below pay grade 0-7 are to receive between $1,200 and $9,000 per year based on years of creditable service; and (2) dentists above pay grade 0-6 are to receive $1,000 per year. Entitles a dentist eligible for special pay to an additional annual payment ($6,000 to $10,000 depending on years of creditable service) for any 12-month period during which he or she is not undergoing dental internship or residency training. Requires such a dentist to agree in writing to remain on active duty for a period of not less than one year in order to receive such payment. Authorizes additional special pay (from $2,000 to $4,000 based on years of creditable service) for those dentists eligible for special pay who are board certified. Sets forth a special pay schedule for optometrists in the Armed Forces or the Public Health Service who are on active duty for not less than one year providing for: (1) payments of $1,000 to $3,000 per year depending on years of creditable service; and (2) additional annual payments of $1,000 for optometrists with at least three years of creditable service. Requires a written agreement for such additional payments. Defines "creditable service" for purposes of this Act to include all time spent in internship or residency while not on active duty, and all time spent on active duty (as a physician, dentist, optometrist or podiatrist). Authorizes special pay of $100 per month to podiatrists in the Armed Forces or in the Public Health Service who are on active duty for not less than one year and who have three or more years of creditable service. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish standards for determining whether an officer is: (1) undergoing medical, dental, or optometry internship or residency training; and (2) board certified for a medical or dental specialty. Stipulates that any special pay received under this Act may not be included in computing the amount of any increase in pay authorized by any other uniformed services pay provisions, or in computing retired, severance, or readjustment pay. Provides for the refund of a specified percentage of the amount received by an officer who voluntarily terminates active service before the expiration of the one-year written agreement. Directs the Secretary to conduct a review every two years of such special pay authorizations. Requires the first such review to be submitted to the Congress no later than September 30, 1982. Repeals existing provisions of Federal law: (1) prohibiting special pay for veterinarians after September 1980; (2) setting forth guidelines for physicians' and dentists' continuation pay; and (3) regarding special pay for specified physicians below pay grade 0-7 who execute active duty agreements. Directs the Secretary to conduct an evaluation of alternatives for addressing the existing maldistribution of medical and dental specialties within the Armed Forces. Requires a final report to be submitted to the Congress no later than two years after enactment of this Act. Stipulates that health professionals eligible for basic and special pay under existing provisions shall not be paid less than such amounts as a result of amendments made by this Act. Authorizes appropriations of $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1981. Provides that special pay provisions under this Act shall take effect for periods beginning after September 30, 1979, or after date of enactment of this Act, whichever is later.

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Timeline

11 September 1979
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
11 September 1979
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Armed Services.
Source: IntroReferral
11 September 1979
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
16 October 1979
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Armed Services, H. Rept. 96-517.
Source: Committee
16 October 1979
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Armed Services, H. Rept. 96-517.
Source: Committee
13 November 1979
Vote
Measure passed House, roll call #653 (377-10).
Source: Floor
13 November 1979
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, roll call #653 (377-10).
Source: Floor
13 November 1979
Floor
Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
Source: Floor
14 November 1979
Introduced
Referred to Senate Committee on Armed Services.
Source: IntroReferral
20 December 1979
ResolvingDifferences
Conference scheduled in Senate.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
20 December 1979
Floor
Measure considered in Senate.
Source: Floor
20 December 1979
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 523.
Source: Floor
20 December 1979
Discharge
Committee on Armed Services discharged in Senate.
Source: Discharge
20 December 1979
Committee
Committee on Armed Services discharged in Senate.
Source: Committee
24 January 1980
ResolvingDifferences
Conference scheduled in House.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
13 February 1980
ResolvingDifferences
Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-754.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
13 February 1980
ResolvingDifferences
Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-754.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
14 February 1980
ResolvingDifferences
Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 96-571.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
14 February 1980
ResolvingDifferences
Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 96-571.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
21 February 1980
Passed
House agreed to conference report.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
21 February 1980
Passed
Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
26 February 1980
President
Measure enrolled in House.
Source: President
26 February 1980
Passed
Senate agreed to conference report.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
26 February 1980
Passed
Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
28 February 1980
President
Measure enrolled in Senate.
Source: President
29 February 1980
Floor
Measure presented to President.
Source: Floor
29 February 1980
President
Measure presented to President.
Source: President
11 March 1980
President
Vetoed by President, H. Doc. 96-280.
Source: President
11 March 1980
President
Vetoed by President, H. Doc. 96-280.
Source: President
12 March 1980
Referred
Veto message from President referred to House Committee on Armed Services.
Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

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Documents

3 official files

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Conference report filed in House
summary · EN · 13 February 1980
Open at official source
Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 20 December 1979
Open at official source
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 11 September 1979
Open at official source
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Related records

related to ← Uniformed Services Health Professionals Special Pay Act of 1979

Sources

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Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/96th-congress/house-bill/5235
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/96/hr/5235
us · 96-hr-5235 · source updated 2 September 2025