Legislative Initiatives - College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota

The College’s government relations ad hoc committee continues to work on legislative requests, assist in informing policymakers and key stakeholders on animal and human health initiatives, and network to raise awareness of the relevance of the veterinary profession. Members work closely with legislative affairs members from the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), and the University of Minnesota to determine opportunities to inform public policy and participate in activities to raise awareness of veterinary issues. For more information, contact Jan Williams, government relations liaison, at willi320@umn.edu or 612-624-6121.

Initiatives

National Dairy Education Center. To meet the national need for trained veterinarians in dairy health, the College continues to work with congressional/legislative members and partners to seek funding for this comprehensive education, research, and outreach effort. See the executive summary with Farm Bill. Also see Minnesota's strengths as a host site for the National Center of Excellence for Dairy Veterinary Education.
National Veterinary Medical Services Act. To promote increased funding for loan forgiveness, the College continues to work closely with the AAVMC.
Loan forgiveness legislation. To help meet the needs for veterinary medicine in under-served areas, the College advocates for legislation to provide financial incentives to graduates to practice.
Bovine tuberculosis. To help address the growing problem of TB in herds and wildlife, the College is partnering with Michigan State University to provide a coordinated effort in research and surveillance on this important economic issue.
Farm bill. Representatives of the College continue to work to inform policymakers about the impact on agriculture.
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. To meet the surveillance needs of Minnesota’s agriculture and animal health sectors, the College continues to work to identify funding through University sources, state legislature, and federal initiatives.

For more information on legislative priorities that affect veterinary medicine, go to:
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
American Veterinary Medical Association
Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association

University of Minnesota Legislative Network
The Legislative Network is a coalition of alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community members who are committed to educating elected officials and our community about the importance of the University of Minnesota to the state. For more information, visit University of Minnesota Legislative Network.