[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2999 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2999
To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance and increase the
number of veterinarians trained in veterinary public health.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 23, 2009
Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania,
and Mr. Schrader) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance and increase the
number of veterinarians trained in veterinary public health.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) In General.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterinary Public
Health Workforce and Education Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Veterinary education capacity building initiatives through the
National Center for Research Resources.
Sec. 4. Enhancing the public health veterinary medicine workforce.
Sec. 5. Implementation plan.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Veterinary medicine is an integral and indispensable
component of the Nation's public health system. Veterinarians
protect human health by preventing and controlling infectious
diseases, ensuring the safety and security of the Nation's food
supply, promoting healthy environments, and providing health
care for animals.
(2) Veterinarians are essential for early detection and
response to unusual disease events that could be linked to
newly emerging infectious diseases, such as, SARS, and West
Nile Virus, or other biothreat agents of concern.
(3) Veterinarians have been intimately involved in
responding to recent disease threats, such as the H1N1 outbreak
in North America in the spring of 2009.
(4) There is a need to build national capacity in research
and training in the prevention, surveillance, diagnosis, and
control of newly emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
(5) Veterinarians are uniquely qualified to address these
high priority public health issues because of their extensive
professional training in basic biomedical sciences, population
medicine, and broad, multi-species, comparative medical
approach to disease prevention and control.
(6) There is a shortage of veterinarians working in
veterinary public health.
(7) The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a
study in February 2009 that focused on the Federal Government's
lack of veterinary manpower and coordination of human capital
needs for veterinarians (GAO-09-178). The GAO report found the
workforce shortage will worsen ``as a result of space
constraints at the Nation's 28 veterinary colleges''.
(8) The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects there to be
28,000 job openings in the veterinary medical profession by
2012 due to growth and net replacements, a turnover of nearly
38 percent.
(9) The Nation's veterinary medical colleges do not have
the capacity to meet the current and future demand for
veterinarians and veterinary expertise that is vital to
maintain public health preparedness.
(10) The Federal Government has not provided resources to
increase the number of veterinarians in the workforce in over
30 years.
SEC. 3. VETERINARY EDUCATION CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVES THROUGH THE
NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH RESOURCES.
Subpart 1 of part E of title IV of the Public Health Service Act is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 481E. VETERINARY EDUCATION CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of
the National Center for Research Resources, shall award competitive
grants to eligible entities for purposes of increasing the number of
veterinarians in the workforce and veterinary teaching faculty in the
field of veterinary public health as defined by section 774.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an entity shall--
``(1) be--
``(A) a public or other nonprofit college or school
of veterinary medicine accredited by the American
Veterinary Medical Association;
``(B) a public or nonprofit, department of
comparative medicine, department of veterinary science,
school of public health, or school of medicine that is
accredited by at least one recognized body approved for
such purpose by the Department of Education and that
offers graduate training for veterinarians in an area
of veterinary public health; or
``(C) a public or nonprofit entity that conducts
residency training programs for veterinarians that are
approved by a veterinary specialty organization that is
recognized by the American Veterinary Medical
Association and that offers advanced training for
veterinarians in an area of veterinary public health;
and
``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application,
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
``(c) Consideration of Applications.--The Secretary shall establish
procedures to ensure that applications submitted under subsection
(b)(2) are rigorously reviewed and that grants are competitively
awarded based on--
``(1) the ability of the applicant to increase the number
of veterinarians who are trained in areas of veterinary public
health;
``(2) the ability of the applicant to increase capacity in
research on high priority disease agents;
``(3) the ability of the applicant to increase the number
of faculty who are trained in areas of veterinary public
health; or
``(4) any other consideration the Secretary determines
necessary.
``(d) Preference.--In awarding grants under subsection (a)(1), the
Secretary shall give preference to--
``(1) applicants that involve more than one college or
school of veterinary medicine, department of comparative
medicine, department of veterinary science, school or program
of public health, school of medicine, or residency training
program that offers postgraduate training for veterinarians in
an area defined in section 774; and
``(2) applicants that significantly increase enrollment in
veterinary public health education programs.
``(e) Use of Funds.--Amounts received under a grant in this section
shall be used by a grantee to increase the number of veterinarians in
the workforce through--
``(1) paying the costs associated with construction, the
acquisition of equipment, and other capital costs relating to
the expansion of new or existing colleges or schools of
veterinary medicine, departments of comparative medicine,
departments of veterinary science, or entities offering
residency training programs to veterinarians;
``(2) paying the capital costs associated with the
expansion of academic programs that offer postgraduate training
for veterinarians or concurrent training for students in
veterinary public health;
``(3) paying the salaries associated with hiring additional
faculty to meet an increase in veterinary student capacity;
``(4) developing a veterinary public health curriculum to
attract veterinarians into careers in public health; and
``(5) providing scholarships to graduated veterinarians or
veterinary students to receive a master's in public health.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year
2010, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $50,000,000 for each of
the fiscal years 2012 through 2014. Such sums shall remain available
until expended.''.
SEC. 4. ENHANCING THE PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARY MEDICINE WORKFORCE.
Part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
294n et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subpart:
``Subpart 3--Veterinary Medicine Workforce
``SEC. 771. VETERINARY FACULTY LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the
Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may
enter into an agreement with eligible individuals for the repayment of
education loans, in accordance with this section, to increase the
number of qualified veterinary faculty in the field of veterinary
public health.
``(b) Agreements.--Each agreement entered into under subsection (a)
shall require that the eligible individual shall serve as a full-time
member of the faculty of a school of veterinary medicine accredited by
the American Veterinary Medical Association, or a department of
comparative medicine, department of veterinary science, school of
public health, or school of medicine accredited by the Department of
Education for a total period, in the aggregate, of at least four
consecutive years during the ten-year period beginning on the later
of--
``(1) the date on which the individual receives a master's
level degree in an approved field of study and doctorate
veterinary medicine degree from a college or school of
veterinary medicine accredited by the Department of Education
or a doctorate in another approved field of study; or
``(2) the date on which the individual enters into an
agreement under subsection (a).
``(c) Agreement Provisions.--Agreements entered into pursuant to
subsection (a) shall be entered into on such terms and conditions as
the Secretary may specify, consistent with the following:
``(1) Not later than 10 months after the date on which the
ten-year period described in subsection (b) begins, but in no
case before the individual starts as a full-time member of the
faculty of a school, department, or college described in such
subsection, the Secretary shall begin making payments, for and
on behalf of that individual, on the out-standing principal of,
and interest on, any loan of that individual obtained to pay
for such degree.
``(2) For an individual who has completed a master's level
degree in an approved field of study--
``(A) payments may not exceed $10,000 per calendar
year; and
``(B) total payments may not exceed $40,000.
``(3) For an individual who has completed a doctorate
degree in an approved field of study--
``(A) payments may not exceed $25,000 with respect
to fiscal year 2010, adjusted for subsequent fiscal
years to reflect the increase in Consumer Price Index;
and
``(B) total payments may not exceed $100,000 with
respect to fiscal year 2010, adjusted for subsequent
fiscal years to reflect the increase in Consumer Price
Index.
``(d) Breach of Agreement.--
``(1) In general.--In the case of any agreement made under
subsection (a), the individual is liable to the Federal
Government for the total amount paid by the Secretary under
such agreement, and for interest on such amount at the maximum
legal prevailing rate, if the individual fails to meet the
agreement terms required under subsection (b).
``(2) Waiver, suspension, or cancellation of liability.--
``(A) In general.--In the case of an individual
making an agreement for purposes of paragraph (1), the
Secretary may suspend or waive, in whole or in part,
liability under such paragraph in accordance with this
paragraph if the Secretary deems compliance by the
individual cannot be fulfilled. The Secretary or the
designee of the Secretary shall review all requests for
suspensions and waivers under this paragraph. In
addition, the Secretary may cancel or terminate an
agreement made under subsection (a) under very limited
circumstances consistent with the provisions of this
paragraph.
``(B) Suspension.--
``(i) In general.--A suspension of
liability of an individual under paragraph (1)
may be granted under subparagraph (A) if
compliance with such liability by the
individual is temporarily impossible or would
involve a temporary extreme hard ship such that
enforcement of the liability would be
unconscionable.
``(ii) Medical documentation; illness of
family member.--Such a suspension shall be
granted under subparagraph (A), for not more
than one year, if the participant provides
independent medical documentation of a physical
or mental health disability, or a terminal
illness of an immediate family member, that
results in the participant's temporary
inability to perform the obligation.
``(iii) Call to active duty in the armed
forces.--Such a suspension shall be granted
under subparagraph (A) if the participants is a
member of a reserve component of the Armed
Forces who is called to serve on active duty,
but for not more than one year beginning on the
activation date described in the member's call
to active duty order.
``(C) Waiver.--A waiver of liability of an
individual under paragraph (1) may be granted under
subparagraph (A) if compliance by the individual is
permanently impossible or would involve a permanent
extreme hardship such that enforcement of the liability
would be unconscionable.
``(D) Cancellation.--The liability of an individual
under paragraph (1) may be cancelled in its entirety
upon the death of the individual.
``(3) Date certain for recovery.--Subject to paragraph (2),
any amount that the Federal Government is entitled to recover
under paragraph (1) shall be paid to the United States not
later than the expiration of the 3-year period beginning on the
date the United States becomes so entitled.
``(4) Availability.--Amounts recovered under paragraph (1)
shall be available to the Secretary for making loan repayments
under this section and shall remain available for such purpose
until expended.
``(e) Eligible Individual Defined.--For the purposes of this
section, the term `eligible individual' means an individual who--
``(1) is a United States citizen, national, or lawful
permanent resident;
``(2)(A) has a degree in an approved field of study as
defined in section 774; or
``(B) is enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis in such
a program.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
$20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to carry out
this section. Such sums shall remain available until expended.
``SEC. 772. VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH FELLOWSHIPS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator
of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall establish
fellowship programs described in subsections (b) and (c) for
veterinarians to provide on-the-job training in food systems security
and veterinary public health.
``(b) Full-time One-year Fellowships.--The fellowship program
described in this subsection is a program under which--
``(1) eligible individuals are hired through the Department
of Health and Human Services as fellows for a one-year period
on a full-time basis;
``(2) the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements
with other departments and agencies of the Federal Government
that employ veterinarians (including the United States
Department of Agriculture, the United States Agency for
International Development, the Department of the Interior, the
Department of Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security,
the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of
Defense) under which such fellows are placed with such other
departments and agencies;
``(3) to be eligible to receive a fellowship an individual
would be a graduate of a school or college of veterinary
medicine; and
``(4) with respect to an individual receiving a fellowship
under the program, the Federal Government agrees to pay a
monthly stipend for each month the individual participates in
such fellowship, the amount of which shall be determined by the
Secretary based on the individual's degree and relevant
experience, such that--
``(A) such individuals who have earned a doctoral
level academic degree in an approved field of study
shall be eligible for a monthly stipend of $4,600 for
fiscal year 2010; adjusted for subsequent fiscal years
to reflect the increase in Consumer Price Index, and
``(B) such individuals who have earned an academic
degree at a Masters level in an approved field of study
shall be eligible for a monthly stipend of $1,000 for
fiscal year 2010; adjusted for subsequent fiscal years
to reflect the increase in Consumer Price Index.
``(c) Part-time Fellowships.--The fellowship program described in
this subsection is a program under which--
``(1) eligible individuals are hired on a part-time basis
through the Department of Health and Human Services as fellows;
``(2) the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements
with other departments and agencies of the Federal Government
that have employ veterinarians (including but not limited to:
the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States
Agency for International Development, the Department of the
Interior, the Department of Commerce, the Department of
Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the
Department of Defense) under which such fellows are placed with
such other departments and agencies;
``(3) to be eligible to receive a fellowship an individual
shall be enrolled in a school of veterinary medicine or a
graduate of a school of veterinary medicine;
``(4) with respect to an eligible individual participating
in such program, the Federal Government agrees to pay a monthly
stipend for each month of such participation in the amount of
$2,000 for fiscal year 2010; adjusted for subsequent fiscal
years to reflect the increase in Consumer Price Index; and
``(5) from amounts appropriated for carrying out this
section, the Secretary shall transfer funds to the head of each
agency participating in such program for the costs of
supporting the beginning salaries of such veterinarians at such
agency for not more than 2 years.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $2,500,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2010 through 2014. For fiscal years after fiscal year 2010
such amount shall be adjusted to reflect the increase in Consumer Price
Index. Such sums shall remain available until expended.
``SEC. 773. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DIVISION OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND
PUBLIC HEALTH AT HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish, within the Health
Resources and Services Administration, a Division of Veterinary
Medicine and Public Health, to administer programs related to
veterinary medicine and public health.
``(b) Director.--The Secretary shall appoint an individual to
direct the Division who is a distinguished leader from the field of
veterinary medicine or public health.
``SEC. 774. DEFINITIONS.
``For purposes of this subpart:
``(1) Veterinary public health defined.--The term
`veterinary public health' includes--
``(A) biodefense and emergency preparedness,
emerging and reemerging infectious diseases,
environmental health, ecosystem health, pre and post-
harvest food protection, regulatory medicine,
diagnostic laboratory medicine, veterinary pathology,
biomedical research, rural and government practice; and
``(B) the sum of all contributions to the physical,
mental, and social well-being of humans through an
understanding and application of veterinary science.
``(2) Approved field of study.--The term `approved field of
study' includes--
``(A) doctoral degrees (VMD, DVM, MD, DO, PhD, DDS)
in veterinary medicine, human medicine, or another
appropriate and applicable scientific field; and
``(B) Masters degrees in veterinary preventative
medicine, public health, science, veterinary science,
or another appropriate and applicable scientific
field.''.
SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Assistant Secretary
for Legislation, shall submit to Congress an implementation plan for
all provisions of this Act and amendments made by this Act.
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