Hundreds of veterinary professionals will are planning to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Thursday, July 17, to discuss ways to boost the retention of veterinarians in rural and underserved communities through the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act.
The legislation, which has been endorsed by the American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA), which would eliminate federal taxes on awards from the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, making it easier to participate.
As part of the legislative fly-in, more than 340 advocates representing 50 states and 37 veterinary schools will also urge congressional support for the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act that will help address the emerging threat of the illicit drug Xylazine, while preserving access to the animal sedative.
The AVMA-backed Combating Illicit Xylazine Act can help to preserve the availability of this prescription animal drug for its critical uses in veterinary medicine as a controlled drug and allow the DEA transparency into the legitimate drug marketplace.
Sources: American Veterinarian Medical Association, NAFB News Service
