H.R. 10617: Veterinary Expansion and Training for Comprehensive Animal Resources and Education Act

This bill would create a new federal grant program to support work-based learning in veterinary medicine for high school students in places that have a veterinarian shortage.

What the grants would fund

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture would be allowed to award competitive grants to eligible organizations to create, expand, or improve high school programs that give students hands-on exposure to veterinary medicine. The bill says these programs should help students learn about and prepare for careers connected to:

• cooperative extension programs
• 4-H and FFA organizations
• school districts and career-technical centers
• community and technical colleges
• veterinary clinics and hospitals
• animal shelters and humane organizations
• state veterinary associations, veterinary boards, and animal health offices
• workforce development boards

The grants could also support exposure to careers in diagnostics, epidemiology, food safety, animal husbandry, and other related areas the Secretary chooses.

Who could apply

Eligible applicants would include:

• accredited veterinary colleges or universities
• cooperative extension programs
• 4-H and FFA organizations
• school districts and career-technical centers
• community and technical colleges or institutes
• veterinary clinics and hospitals
• state veterinary organizations and animal health offices
• workforce development boards
• Tribal organizations

How grants would be prioritized

When deciding which projects to fund, the Secretary could give priority to programs in areas with documented veterinary shortages, including rural, urban, and suburban areas. The bill says special priority should go to programs that:

• provide substantial hands-on experience with livestock, equine animals, or other large animals
• create a pathway for students to continue into postsecondary education, training, or long-term work in large-animal or food-animal veterinary medicine

Reporting requirements

Organizations receiving grants would have to report yearly data to the Secretary, including:

• how many students enrolled and graduated
• attendance and truancy information
• graduation rates
• how many students went on to college or training
• how many students entered the workforce
• how many students participated in large-animal work-based learning and, if possible, what happened to them afterward

The Secretary could require additional information to evaluate how well the grants are working.

Funding

The bill would authorize whatever sums are necessary to run the program, but it does not set a specific dollar amount.

Relevant Companies

None found