Senate bill introduced to increase veterinarians in public health practice

April 29, 2005 — Washington, DC

U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) on Wednesday introduced S. 914, the Veterinary Workforce Expansion Act of 2005 (VWEA). The legislation would establish a grant program to expand capacity in veterinary medical schools, and increase the number of veterinarians working in public health practice and biomedical research. The AASV Board of Directors recently approved efforts to support passage of this legislation.

"Veterinarians play a key role in protecting the health of our nation, yet there is a shortage of veterinarians working in public health and biomedical research," Senator Allard said. "Given the increasing dangers posed by public health threats like SARS, West Nile and monkeypox, it is critical that we address this shortage."

"In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be more than 28,000 openings for veterinarians by the year 2012, highlighting the need for new graduates. My legislation will help our veterinary medical schools meet the increasing demand for veterinary professionals," added Senator Allard.

The VWEA would amend the Public Health Service Act to create a competitive grant program for schools and institutions to increase both their training capacity and their ability to research high-priority diseases.

"Veterinarians are in a position to detect and respond early to emerging infectious diseases and potential bioterror threats," Senator Allard said. "By increasing the number of graduates and improving our research capabilities in veterinary medicine, we can make sure that our country is ready to face the public health challenges of the future."

Senator Allard ran a veterinary practice for more than 20 years in Loveland, Colorado prior to his service in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.