I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3519 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 31, 2009 Mr. Smith of Nebraska (for himself, Mr. Boswell, Mr. Baca, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Holden, Mr. Latham, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mr. Massa, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Walz, Mr. Thornberry, Mrs. Lummis, Mr. Neugebauer, Mr. Schock, and Mr. Latta) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to establish a grant program to promote efforts to develop, implement, and sustain veterinary services, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterinarian Services Investment Act.

2.

Veterinary services grant program

The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after section 1415A (7 U.S.C. 3151a) the following new section:

1415B.

Veterinary services grant program

(a)

Establishment of program

(1)

Competitive grants

The Secretary shall carry out a program to make competitive grants to qualified entities described in paragraph (2) for the purpose of developing, implementing, and sustaining veterinary services. (2)

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, a qualified entity must carry out programs or activities that the Secretary determines will— (A)substantially relieve veterinary shortage situations; (B)support or facilitate private veterinary practices engaged in public health activities; or (C)support or facilitate practices of veterinarians who are participating in or have successfully completed a service requirement under section 1415A. (b)

Award processes and preferences

(1)

Application, evaluation, and input processes

In administrating the grant program under this section, the Secretary shall use an appropriate application and evaluation process and seek the input of interested person. (2)

Grant preferences

In selecting qualified entities to receive a grant under this section, the Secretary shall give a preference to qualified entities that— (A)document coordination between or with— (i)a State, national, allied, or regional veterinary organization, a specialty board, or veterinary medical association recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association; (ii)the applicable accredited veterinary education institution, or accredited department of veterinary science, or department of comparative medicine; or (iii)the applicable State veterinarian or animal health official (or its equivalent); and (B)will use the grant funds to help to meet veterinary workforce or food protection needs. (3)

Additional preferences

When awarding grants under this section, the Secretary may develop additional preferences by taking into account the amount of funds available for grants as well as the purposes for which the grant funds will be used. (4)

Applicability of other provisions

Sections 1413B, 1462(a), 1469(a)(3), and 1469(c) shall apply to the administration of the grant program under this section. (c)

Cost-Sharing requirements

(1)

Recipient share

A grant recipient shall provide matching non-Federal funds, either in cash or in-kind support, in an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the Federal funds provided in a grant under this section. (2)

Waiver

The Secretary may establish, by regulation, conditions under which the cost-sharing requirements of paragraph (1) may be reduced or waived. (d)

Use of grant To relieve veterinary shortage situations and support veterinary services

Funds provided by grants under this section may be used for the following purposes to relieve veterinary shortage situations and support veterinary services: (1)Grants to promote recruitment, placement, and retention of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students of veterinary medicine, and students of veterinary technology. (2)Grants to assist veterinarians with establishing or expanding practices for the purpose of equipping veterinary offices, sharing in the overhead costs of such practices, or to the establishment of mobile veterinary facilities where at least a portion of such facilities will address education or extension needs. (3)Financial assistance for veterinary students, veterinary interns, externs, fellows, and residents, and veterinary technician students to attend training programs in food safety or food animal medicine to cover expenses other than tuition. (4)Programs establishing or expanding accredited veterinary education programs, veterinary residency and fellowship programs or veterinary internship and externship programs in coordination with accredited colleges of veterinary medicine. (5)Programs for tele-veterinary medicine where such practices shall at least in part contribute to veterinary extension, education, or research. (6)Support the ability of the office or position of a State veterinarian or animal health official to coordinate veterinary services and food protection issues described in the preceding paragraphs. (7)Assessments of veterinarian shortage situations and preparation of applications for designation as a shortage situation. (8)Programs in continuing education and extension, including distance-based education, for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other health professionals needed to strengthen veterinary programs and enhance food safety. (9)Faculty recruitment and retention programs at accredited colleges of veterinary medicine. (10)Programs, in coordination with universities or local educational agencies, to encourage students in secondary schools to pursue a career in veterinary medicine or science professions. (e)

Prohibition on use of grant funds for construction

Funds made available for grants under this section shall not be used for the construction of a new building or facility or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building of facility, including site grading and improvement and architect fees. (f)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Veterinarian shortage situation

The term veterinarian shortage situation means a veterinarian shortage situation determined by the Secretary under section 1415A(b). (2)

Qualified entity

The term qualified entity means the following: (A)A for-profit or nonprofit entity located in the United States that operates a veterinary clinic providing veterinary services— (i)in a rural area, as defined in section 1393(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or (ii)in response to a veterinarian shortage situation. (B)A State, national, allied, or regional veterinary organization or specialty board recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association. (C)A college or school of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. (D)A university research foundation or veterinary medical foundation. (E)A department of veterinary science or department of comparative medicine accredited by the Department of Education. (F)A State agricultural experiment station. (G)A State, local, or tribal government agency. (g)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year thereafter.

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