50 U.S.C. § 3527 — Chaplain Corps and Chief of Chaplains

Page 917 TITLE 50—WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE § 3528 tutions in the United States for the purpose of encouraging and enhancing study in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics disciplines at all levels of education. (2) Education partnership agreements (A) Nature of assistance provided Under an education partnership agreement entered into with an educational institution under paragraph (1)(E), the Director may provide assistance to the educational insti- tution by— (i) loaning equipment to the educational institution for any purpose and duration in support of such agreement that the Direc- tor considers appropriate; (ii) making personnel available to teach science courses or to assist in the develop- ment of science courses and materials for the educational institution; (iii) providing sabbatical opportunities for faculty and internship opportunities for students; (iv) involving faculty and students of the educational institution in Agency projects, including research and tech- nology transfer or transition projects; (v) cooperating with the educational in- stitution in developing a program under which students may be given academic credit for work on Agency projects, includ- ing research and technology transfer for transition projects; and (vi) providing academic and career ad- vice and assistance to students of the edu- cational institution. (B) Priorities In entering into education partnership agreements under paragraph (1)(E), the Di- rector shall prioritize entering into edu- cation partnership agreements with the fol- lowing: (i) Historically Black colleges and uni- versities and other minority-serving insti- tutions, as described in section 1067q(a) of title 20. (ii) Educational institutions serving women, members of minority groups, and other groups of individuals who tradition- ally are involved in the science, tech- nology, engineering, arts, and mathe- matics professions in disproportionately low numbers. (d) Designation of advisor The Director shall designate one or more indi- viduals within the Agency to advise and assist the Director regarding matters relating to science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics education and training. (June 20, 1949, ch. 227, § 25, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. W, title V, § 501, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2380.) § 3527. Chaplain Corps and Chief of Chaplains (a) Establishment of Chaplain Corps There is in the Agency a Chaplain Corps for the provision of spiritual or religious pastoral services. (b) Chief of Chaplains The head of the Chaplain Corps shall be the Chief of Chaplains, who shall be appointed by the Director. (c) Staff and administration (1) Staff The Director may appoint and fix the com- pensation of such staff of the Chaplain Corps as the Director considers appropriate, except that the Director may not— (A) appoint more than 10 full-time equiva- lent positions; or (B) provide basic pay to any member of the staff of the Chaplain Corps at an annual rate of basic pay in excess of the maximum rate of basic pay for grade GS–15 as provided in section 5332 of title 5. (2) Administration The Director may— (A) reimburse members of the staff of the Chaplain Corps for work-related travel ex- penses; (B) provide security clearances to such members; (C) furnish such physical workspace at the headquarters building of the Agency as the Director considers appropriate; and (D) certify that all Chaplains meet com- mon standards for professional chaplaincy and board certification by a national chap- laincy and pastoral care organization or equivalent. (June 20, 1949, ch. 227, § 26, as added Pub. L. 117–103, div. X, title IV, § 411, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 976.) § 3528. Compensation and professional standards for certain medical officers (a) Office of Medical Services There is in the Agency an Office of Medical Services. (b) Compensation Beginning not later than 1 year after March 15, 2022, each medical officer of the Office of Medical Services who meets the qualifications under subsection (c) shall be compensated dur- ing a pay period pursuant to a pay range that is equal to the pay range published in the Federal Register pursuant to section 7431(e)(1)(C) of title 38 (for the corresponding pay period), for a phy- sician in the Veterans Health Administration in the District of Columbia region with a medical subspecialty that is the equivalent of the med- ical subspecialty of the officer. (c) Clinical practice qualifications A medical officer meets the qualifications under this subsection if the officer provides di- rect care services to patients in connection with the official duties of the officer and— (1) maintains current, active, full, and unre- stricted licensure or registration as a physi- cian from a State, the District of Columbia, or a commonwealth or territory of the United States; (2) holds active board certification and maintains accreditation in an American Board of Medical Specialties direct care clinical spe- cialty; and