Michael Burgess: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 525, the Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of 2011, would take important steps to increase the…”

“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 urge my colleagues to support the bill.”