Austin Scott: “Without a serious endeavor to train more large animal veterinarians, the country could be in a position where dangerous…”

“Without a serious endeavor to train more large animal veterinarians, the country could be in a position where dangerous pathogens and disease go unchecked, leading to a major, major food safety hazard. We have come close in numerous threats, and we have to keep our food supply safe. At the forefront of that are our veterinarians. Earlier this year, the House passed H.R. 3519, Veterinarian Services Investment Act. This bill creates grants to develop, deploy, and sustain veterinarian services and provides our Nation's current and future animal physicians with the resources they desperately need. While Senate prospects for this bill are uncertain, unfortunately, as the remaining legislative year dwindles, I am hopeful that the Senate will act soon. It is imperative that we address this dire shortage of veterinarians by supporting the training of new vets and by helping those already in the field by equipping them with the tools they need to maintain successful practices. So I welcome this resolution, and I commend Mr. Schrader for offering it, and any chance we have to mention the crucial work of our veterinarians and highlight the need to train and employ more of them is a chance we must take to do just that. Once again, Madam Speaker, I offer my wholehearted approval for this resolution for the veterinarians it seeks to honor.”