Legislation Search

H.R. 8473: Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act

This bill, known as the Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act, aims to enhance public health veterinary services for Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, particularly focusing on zoonotic diseases—diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans.

Key Provisions of the Bill:

  • Public Health Veterinary Services: The bill defines public health veterinary services to include various activities such as:
    • Spaying and neutering of domestic animals
    • Diagnosis of diseases
    • Surveillance and epidemiology of zoonotic diseases
    • Control and prevention efforts
    • Vaccination campaigns
    • Any related activities aimed at reducing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission.
  • Funding Authorization: The bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use funds for these veterinary services, especially in areas where zoonotic diseases are prevalent.
  • Deployment of Officers: It allows for the assignment of veterinary public health officers from the Public Health Service to these areas to help provide these services.
  • Coordination Efforts: The Secretary is also tasked with coordinating activities with other health authorities, including the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the Department of Agriculture.
  • Biennial Reporting: The Secretary is required to submit a report every two years to various Senate and House committees detailing fund usage, deployment of officers, and data on zoonotic diseases.
  • Oral Rabies Vaccine Study: The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a feasibility study on delivering oral rabies vaccines to wildlife in Arctic regions, which could impact Tribal members living there.
  • One Health Framework: The bill amends existing laws to include the Director of the Indian Health Service in discussing One Health approaches, which recognize the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

Through these measures, the bill seeks to empower Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to effectively combat zoonotic diseases and improve public health in their communities.

Relevant Companies:

  • None found

This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.

Show More

Sponsors

1 sponsor

Actions

2 actions

Date Action
Apr. 23, 2026 Introduced in House
Apr. 23, 2026 Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Corporate Lobbying

0 companies lobbying

None found.

* Note that there can be significant delays in lobbying disclosures, and our data may be incomplete.

Potentially Relevant Congressional Stock Trades

No relevant congressional stock trades found.