American Veterinary Medical Association Congressional Advocacy Network

04/28/2022

Thank you to everyone who advocated on behalf of the veterinary profession during the 2022 #AVMAFlyIn!

This year we had over 200 veterinary professionals from 49 states plus Puerto Rico attend 246 meetings with congressional offices.

Participants educated lawmakers on Capitol Hill about the need to increase access to veterinary services in rural areas through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act and strengthen our public health infrastructure by passing the Healthy Dog Importation Act.

TODAY: The #AVMA and 200 veterinary professionals will meet virtually with Capitol Hill lawmakers and their staffs to discuss how Congress can help support and advance the profession. #AVMAFlyIn

04/27/2022

Understanding the importance of increasing veterinary services in rural areas by addressing student debt, Rep. Ron Kind helped reintroduce the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act to strengthen rural communities. #AVMAFlyIn

04/27/2022

With his endorsement of the #VMLRP Enhancement Act, Congressman Jim Costa has helped grow support for this bill in the House. A bipartisan group of 52 representatives now support increasing veterinary services in rural areas by addressing student debt. #AVMAFlyIn

04/27/2022

Senator Chuck Grassley champions the Healthy Dog Importation Act in Congress to ensure dogs entering the U.S. are healthy and not at risk to spread dangerous diseases that could adversely impact animal and public health. #AVMAFlyIn

04/27/2022

An ally to the veterinary profession, Congressman Ed Case knows how important the Healthy Dog Importation Act is to maintaining animal and public health and ensuring dogs imported into the country are not at risk to spread dangerous diseases. #AVMFlyIn

04/27/2022

As Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a leader in advocating for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act, Senator Debbie Stabenow's support for veterinary medicine has been critical in advancing legislation that strengthens the profession. #AVMAFlyIn

04/27/2022

In the House, Rep. Adrian Smith has taken a leadership role in urging Congress to pass the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act, which addresses two significant issues facing the profession - rural veterinary shortages and student debt. #AVMAFlyIn

04/27/2022

As the sole veterinarian in Congress, Congressman Kurt Schrader understands the challenges veterinarians face and what legislation can help advance veterinary medicine. His sustained commitment to the veterinary community is essential in amplifying the voice of the profession. #AVMAFlyIn

04/27/2022

As a Senate champion of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act, Senator Mike Crapo recognizes how increasing access to veterinary services by assisting with student debt is vital to maintaining vibrant rural communities. #AVMAFlyIn

04/27/2022

As a leader in advancing #OneHealth legislation and the Healthy Dog Importation Act, U.S. Senator Tina Smith has demonstrated she is a true champion of the veterinary profession in Congress. #AVMAFlyIn

04/27/2022

Embracing his role as Co-Chair of the Veterinary Medicine Caucus, Rep. Dusty Johnson reintroduced legislation that would strengthen dog importation & is a strong advocate for rural areas with his support for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act. #AVMAFlyIn

04/27/2022

Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator John Boozman has helped grow broad, bipartisan support for the #VMLRP Enhancement Act that would greatly benefit rural areas by increasing access to veterinary services while assisting with educational debt. #AVMAFlyIn

04/27/2022

Recognizing the need to strengthen the country's dog importation standards and public health infrastructure, Senator Jerry Moran issued his endorsement of the Healthy Dog Importation Act and is a staunch supporter of its passage.

04/27/2022

TODAY: The #AVMA and 200 veterinary professionals will meet virtually with Capitol Hill lawmakers and their staffs to discuss how Congress can help support and advance the profession. #AVMAFlyIn

04/25/2022

Veterinarians to meet with Capitol Hill lawmakers to discuss student debt, healthy dog importation

The 2022 #AVMAFlyIn is this week on Wednesday, April 27!

We are looking forward to educating congressional offices alongside 200 veterinary professionals about policies that are critical to advancing the profession and veterinary medicine.

Read more ⬇️⬇️⬇️

On April 27, 200 veterinary professionals will meet with senators, representatives, and their staffs to highlight the importance of legislation that will help increase access to veterinary services in rural areas and reduce the spread of diseases that pose a threat to animal and public health.

04/21/2022

Veterinarians to meet with Capitol Hill lawmakers to discuss student debt, healthy dog importation

The AVMA, along with 200 veterinary professionals, will meet with senators, representatives, & their staffs to discuss the importance of increasing veterinary services in rural areas & the need to strengthen regulations to ensure healthy dog importation.

On April 27, 200 veterinary professionals will meet with senators, representatives, and their staffs to highlight the importance of legislation that will help increase access to veterinary services in rural areas and reduce the spread of diseases that pose a threat to animal and public health.

04/07/2022

Millions allocated for federal veterinary programs

ICYMI: Congress passes government spending bill for FY 22 that includes new funding levels and major wins for the veterinary profession. 🔽🔽🔽

The AVMA worked with lawmakers and coalitions to help secure funding in the $1.5 trillion federal spending bill for programs critical to the veterinary profession.

04/06/2022

An important update from the U.S. Department of Education - the suspension of federal student loan repayment and interest accrual has been extended by the Administration to August 31, 2022 due to #COVID19. Additional details are below. #Thread

BREAKING: ED has announced an extension of the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections through August 31, 2022: https://go.usa.gov/xu3ag?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=616cb65f-94a8-4672-bd98-32262a288bd8

03/17/2022

VMLRP Applicants | National Institute of Food and Agriculture

BREAKING: The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the opening of the '22 application cycle for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program.

#VMLRP helps address two of the biggest challenges the profession faces - student debt and rural veterinary shortages: bit.ly/3tgurH9

Before You Start Your Application THOROUGHLY READ Request for Applications (RFA) Eligibility Application Review Process VMLRP Contract (NIFA-05-10) Sample Loan Document Tutorial Loan Consolidation Preparing and Submitting Your Application Application Guide Application Checklist Application Forms Web...

03/15/2022

Tell us your VMLRP story

Are you a veterinarian who has served in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)? Your stories will make a real difference in helping educate Congress and the public about the importance of the #VMLRP.

Share your story 🔽🔽🔽

Have you received funding from the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program? Tell us about it!

02/28/2022

Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) | National Institute of Food and Agriculture

The Veterinary Services Grant Program helps address rural veterinary shortages across the country & provides grants for education/training to veterinary students, interns, and residents.

The '22-'23 application cycle for #VSGP is now open!

Additional details are below. 🔽🔽🔽

The Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) is designed to support education and extension activities and practice enhancement initiatives that will enable veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary technicians, and veterinary technician students to gain specialized skills and provide practices...

02/10/2022

What’s happening on Capitol Hill: Advocacy update

Legislation backed by the AVMA would strengthen dog importation requirements, add resources to monitor the health of dogs entering the US, and require toxicity warning labels on foods containing xylitol. Our blog shares the latest advocacy update:

Legislation backed by the AVMA would strengthen dog importation requirements, add resources to monitor the health of dogs entering the United States, and require toxicity warning labels on foods containing xylitol.

01/27/2022

APHIS to resubmit horse soring rule

In line with the AVMA's advocacy efforts, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced it will propose new rules incorporating findings from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study on horse soring - a positive step toward making horse soring an act of the past.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture pulled a rule regarding methods for detecting soring in horses and will issue a new rule that incorporates the recommendations of a National Academy of Sciences report.

01/27/2022

AVMA Fellowship Program

ICYMI: Applications for the 2022-23 AVMA Fellowship Program are due on February 8, 2022! Details below 🔽🔽🔽

The AVMA Fellowship Program is an unparalleled opportunity to shape public policy while enhancing your knowledge of the political process.​

01/18/2022

SBA PPP Forgiveness::

REMINDER: If your Paycheck Protection Program loan is $150,000 or less, you may be eligible to apply for direct forgiveness through the U.S. Small Business Administration using their online portal:

This portal is made available by the US Small Business Administration to streamline forgiveness processing for PPP Borrowers. After registration, you may use this streamlined process to automatically submit your forgiveness request to your lender.

01/12/2022

Guest opinion: Addressing veterinarian shortages in Idaho

ICYMI: Senator Mike Crapo calls for the passage of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act to increase access to rural veterinary care across the country.

Qualified veterinarians in agricultural communities across Idaho and the nation are a key part of maintaining animal health and welfare, and ensuring ranchers and farmers have access to care for

01/04/2022

What's the latest happenings in veterinary advocacy?

AVMA-backed legislation would strengthen dog importation requirements, provide the USDA with more resources to monitor the health of dogs entering the United States, and require toxicity warning labels on foods containing xylitol. AVMA also is working with the U.S. Department of Education to make sure its overhaul of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program responds to the needs of veterinary borrowers.

12/15/2021

AVMA Fellowship Program

The '22-'23 AVMA Fellowship Program is an opportunity to shape public policy while enhancing your knowledge of the political process by working as a scientific advisor to a member of Congress/congressional committee. Applications are due February 8, 2022.

The AVMA Fellowship Program is an unparalleled opportunity to shape public policy while enhancing your knowledge of the political process.​

11/18/2021

NIFA Invests $2.8M in Rural Food Animal Veterinary Medicine Across the U.S. | National Institute of Food and Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced 17 Veterinary Service Grants Program awards to help increase access to veterinary services in rural areas. These awards will enable veterinary professionals to gain specialized food animal skills & enhance their practices:

NIFA recently announced 17 Veterinary Service Grants Program (VSGP) awards, seven Education, Extension, and Training (EET) grants and 10 Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE) grants to help mitigate food animal veterinary service shortages in the United States. The goals of the VSGP are to support food a...

11/05/2021

Wins for the veterinary profession: Capitol Hill update

The #AVMAhasYourBack by advocating on behalf of the veterinary community. Read our latest blog to see some of the work the #AVMA is doing to protect, promote, and advance the profession:

Legislation to address student debt, enhance veterinary retirement options, and support rural access to veterinary care is being considered in Congress, thanks to the work of veterinarians and the AVMA.

11/05/2021

USDA begins process to identify veterinary shortage areas

ICYMI: Solicitation of Veterinary Shortage Situations for the VMLRP FY 2022 👉https://bit.ly/3o17BiP

State animal health officials have until November 8, 2021, to submit nominations for locations to be designated as USDA veterinary shortage areas in 2022.

11/03/2021

Ask Congress to Advance One Health Legislation

Help amplify the voice of the veterinary profession in Congress on #OneHealthDay by urging your representatives to cosponsor the Advancing Through Emergency Preparedness Through #OneHealth Act!

It’s more important than ever that public health officials take a coordinated approach to animal, human, and environmental health. Urge Congress to support the Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act.