Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2999, the Veterinary Public Health Workforce and Education Act, would take important steps to increase the number of public health veterinarians. Food animal veterinarians play a vital role in public health, and experts have said that there is a major shortage. This shortage will have a negative impact on our public health, including the safety of our Nation's food supply. This legislation will help us solve that problem. H.R. 2999 would allow those seeking veterinary public health degrees to be eligible for public health workforce loan repayment programs. It would also permit the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award training grants to increase the veterinary public health workforce. On committee we worked in a bipartisan basis to ensure that it is crystal clear that our Nation's food animal veterinarians will be eligible for programs under this bill. We need more food animal veterinarians, and this will help us get there. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.”