Political Quotes

“I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 525, the Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of 2011, would take important steps to increase the number of public health veterinarians. Food animal veterinarians have a vital role in our Nation's public health, and experts have informed us that there is, in fact, a shortage. This shortage could negatively affect our Nation's public health, including the safety of our Nation's food. We expect that this legislation will help greatly in solving that problem. H.R. 525 would enable individuals seeking veterinary public health degrees to be eligible for existing public health workforce loan repayment programs. This legislation would also allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award existing training grants to increase the veterinary public health workforce. I would like to thank all of the Members who have worked on this issue, including my physician colleague on the committee, Dr. Phil Gingrey of Georgia. I would also like to thank Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin for authoring the bill. I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.”