Statement on Signing the
Bill Amending the Federal Civilian Physicians' Pay Comparability Allowance
Program
I
have signed S.1666, an act that extends and improves the Government's pay
comparability allowance program for Federal civilian physicians. This important
program has helped Federal agencies recruit and retain badly needed physicians
by bringing their salaries closer to those available in the private sector.
I
wish to set forth my understanding of a provision in section 1 of this act
permitting certain physicians who were previously employed by the Veterans'
Administration (VA) and the Public Health Service (PHS) and who are now employed
in positions covered by the physician comparability allowance program in 5
U.S.C. section 5948 to count that previous service with the VA and the PHS in
computing the total length of their service as a ``Government physician'' to
determine the amount due them under the physician pay comparability allowance
program. Nothing in this provision is intended to bring physicians currently
employed in the VA or the PHS within the coverage of the pay comparability
allowance program or to change in any way the definition of the term
``Government physician'' for purposes of that program. Further, this provision
does not have the effect of amending any statute relating to the pay or
allowances of a physician employed by the VA or the PHS. Its sole purpose is computation
of the length of service as a ``Government physician'' for purposes of
determining the amount of physicians' pay comparability allowance.
I
also wish to point out that section 2 of the act, which requires payment of
special allowances to certain nonphysician
psychologists in the Public Health Service, is unnecessary since the agency is
not experiencing any recruitment or retention problems regarding such
professionals. This provision could also lead to pressure to provide similar
allowances to psychologists in other agencies, which would be an equally
unwarranted use of the taxpayers' money. Accordingly, the administration plans
to seek its early repeal.
Note: S. 1666, approved
October 26, was assigned Public Law No. 100 - 140.