By: AVMA Congressional Advocacy Network
During AVMA Legislative Fly-In on February 6th, your fellow veterinary advocates will be meeting with members of Congress and their staff to educate them on issues most important to veterinary medicine.
Members of the AzVMA were present including AzVMA President, Dr. Racheal McKinney; Arizona AVMA Delegate, Dr. Michael Lent; and Aspen Settle, a fourth-year veterinary student from Tucson attending LSU.
Even if you have already participated in these campaigns previously, it’s important to act again and ask your members of Congress to support and cosponsor the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act and the Healthy Dog Importation Act.
Help attract and retain veterinarians in rural and underserved shortage areas
The AVMA is urging Congress to pass the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act. Previously named the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act, the bill would help increase access to food animal and public health veterinary services in USDA-designated rural areas by helping veterinarians with the significant obstacle of educational debt.
Act Now: https://avmacan.avma.org/campaign/48797
Strengthen dog importation standards
Call on Congress to pass the Healthy Dog Importation Act, which strengthens dog importation requirements and provides the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies with the necessary tools to monitor and safeguard the health of dogs being imported into the United States.
Take action: https://avmacan.avma.org/campaign/45389/