[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 136 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H9917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             MORE VETERINARIANS ARE NEEDED IN RURAL AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an issue 
not at the forefront of debate here in Washington but which will impact 
many areas of our country and many aspects of our lives. I am referring 
to the need for skilled veterinarians in many communities across 
America. This may not be a topic which makes its way to the House floor 
very often, but I assure you, it is an issue for many areas of our 
country.
  Our food animal veterinary workforce is on the front lines of food 
safety, public health and animal health. This vital profession, 
however, is facing a critical shortage in the public, private, 
industrial and academic sectors. To make matters worse, the problem is 
on the rise. Large animal veterinarians, in particular, are integral to 
small rural communities. But in many of these communities, communities 
with few people but large numbers of animals, we are seeing a very 
distressing trend.
  Let me show you. This map is a geographic display of total food 
animals by county in the United States. The dark gold areas have 
particularly high concentrations of animals per county, more than 
250,000. As you can see, States such as Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas 
and California all have extremely high concentrations of counties with 
250,000 or more food animals.
  Now let's take a look at a map showing total food animal 
veterinarians by county. The areas of dark green indicate counties with 
35 or more food animal veterinarians by county, certainly quite a 
difference.
  Finally, let's take a look at a map showing food animal concentration 
per veterinarian. I want to draw your attention to the red flags that 
dot the map. We all know that red flags mean danger or a hazard ahead. 
The red flags on this map indicate counties without one single food 
animal veterinarian but which have more than 25,000 food animals, 
several counties across the country.
  According to the most recent data from the USDA, Cherry County, one 
county in my district, has 145,000 food animals per veterinarian. 
Fillmore County, also in Nebraska, has 112,000 food animals but not one 
food animal veterinarian. It's absolutely necessary for the farmers, 
ranchers, hobbyists--not lobbyists but hobbyists--and even animal 
lovers to have access to qualified local veterinary clinics.
  To this end, Mr. Speaker, I have introduced H.R. 3519, the 
Veterinarian Services Investment Act. The legislation authorizes the 
Secretary of Agriculture to award competitive grants to help develop, 
implement and sustain veterinary services, especially in underserved 
areas. These grants may be used to support a wide array of activities 
based on the needs of an area, such as veterinarian and veterinary 
technician recruitment; expanding and establishing practices in high-
need areas; surveillance of food animal disease and the utilization of 
veterinary services; establishing mobile/portable clinics and tele-vet 
services; and accredited veterinary education programs, including 
continuing education, distance education and faculty recruitment.
  Under my bill, eligible applicants must carry out programs or 
activities which will substantially relieve the veterinary shortages 
throughout our country, as indicated on a geographical basis. These 
include entities such as veterinary clinics located in underserved or 
rural areas; veterinary practices which meet food animal protection 
needs; State, national, allied or regional veterinary organizations and 
specialty boards; colleges or schools of veterinary medicine; and 
State, local or tribal veterinary agencies.
  I am proud to say that more than 30 of my colleagues, Democrat and 
Republican, have joined me as cosponsors of H.R. 3519. It has been 
endorsed by, among others, the American Veterinary Medical Association, 
the South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association, the Iowa Veterinary 
Medical Association, Nebraska and Minnesota as well, the Farm Bureau, 
the Animal Health Institute, the National Association of Federal 
Veterinarians and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
  Veterinarians make a difference every day. They understand animals 
and are integral parts of our rural communities. Unfortunately, too 
many rural communities don't have this necessary support. The 
Veterinary Services Investment Act will go a long way in this 
direction.

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