99–006 

112TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 112–22 

VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AMENDMENTS ACT OF 

2011 

MARCH 2, 2011.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. UPTON, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 525] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred 

the bill (H.R. 525) to amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance and increase the number of veterinarians trained in veterinary public health, having considered the same, report favorably 

thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 1 

Background and Need for Legislation .................................................................... 2 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 2 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 2 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 3 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 3 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 3 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures ............. 3 

Earmark ................................................................................................................... 3 

Committee Cost Estimate ....................................................................................... 3 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 3 

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 4 

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 4 

Constitutional Authority Statement ......................................................................

Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 5 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 5 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 5 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 525, the ‘‘Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of 

2011’’, was introduced on February 8, 2011, by Rep. Tammy BaldVerDate Mar 15 2010 07:18 Mar 03, 2011 Jkt 099006 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR022.XXX HR022

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1World Health Organization Study Group on Future Trends in Veterinary Public Health, Future Trends in Veterinary Public Health (2002). 2Government Accountability Office, Veterinarian Workforce: Actions Are Needed to Ensure 

Sufficient Capacity for Protecting Public and Animal Health (Feb. 4, 2009) (GAO–09–178). 

win (D–WI), and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 

The goal of H.R. 525 is to help increase the number of veterinary 

public health professionals. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Veterinary medicine is an important component of our public 

health system.1 Veterinarians protect human health through early 

detection and response to disease events that can be linked to 

newly-emerging infectious diseases, such as SARS or West Nile 

Virus. They can also assist in the response to threats, such as the 

2009 H1N1 (flu) outbreak. 

There are critical shortages of veterinarians working in public 

health disciplines. A February 2009 report from the Government 

Accountability Office warns that ‘‘there is a growing shortage of 

veterinarians nationwide, particularly of veterinarians who care for 

animals raised for food, serve in rural communities, and have 

training in public health.’’ 2 Furthermore, the report states that the 

‘‘veterinarian shortage is expected to worsen’’ even as ‘‘the demand 

for veterinarians is expected to increase.’’ 

Section 765 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) provides authority for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human 

Services (HHS) to award grants to, or enter into contracts with, 

training institutions to increase the number of individuals in the 

public health workforce; to enhance the quality of the workforce; 

and to enhance the ability of the workforce to meet national, state, 

and local needs. Additionally, Section 776 of the PHSA supports 

public health professionals who serve in federal, state, local, and 

tribal public health agencies. While veterinary public health professionals are not excluded from participation in these programs, it is 

not clear their participation is permitted. 

The House passed legislation similar to H.R. 525 in the 111th 

Congress (H. Rept. 111–634). No further action was taken on the 

legislation during that Congress. 

HEARINGS

The Committee on Energy and Commerce has not held hearings 

on H.R. 525. However, the Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing on similar legislation, H.R. 2999, in the 111th Congress on September 15, 2010 (H. Rept. 111–154). 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

H.R. 525, the ‘‘Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of 

2011’’, was introduced by Ms. Baldwin of Wisconsin on February 8, 

2011, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 

The bill was subsequently referred to the Subcommittee on Health 

on February 8, 2011. The Subcommittee met in open markup session to consider H.R. 525 on February 11, 2011. Subsequently, H.R. 

525 was favorably forwarded to the full Committee by a voice vote. 


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On February 15, 2011, the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

met in open markup session to consider H.R. 525 as approved by 

the Subcommittee on Health. Subsequently the Committee ordered 

H.R. 525 favorably reported to the House by a voice vote. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes on the motion 

to report legislation and amendments thereto. There were no 

record votes taken in connection with ordering H.R. 525 reported. 

A motion by Mr. Upton to order H.R. 525 reported to the House, 

without amendment, was agreed to by a voice vote. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the oversight findings and recommendations of 

the Committee are reflected in the descriptive portions of this report, including the finding that there are shortages of veterinarians 

working in public health disciplines. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the performance goals and objectives of 

the Committee are reflected in the descriptive portions of this report, including the goal of increasing the number of veterinary public health professionals. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 525, the 

‘‘Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of 2011’’, would result 

in no new or increased budget authority, entitlement authority, or 

tax expenditures or revenues. 

EARMARK

In compliance with clauses 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the 

Committee finds that H.R. 525, the ‘‘Veterinary Public Health 

Amendments Act of 2011’’, contains no earmarks. 

COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by 

the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate provided by 

the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974: 


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FEBRUARY 25, 2011. 

Hon. FRED UPTON, 

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 525, Veterinary Public 

Health Amendments Act of 2011. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Lisa Ramirez-Branum. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 525—Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of 2011 

Under current law, the Health Resources and Services Administration is authorized to provide loans or grants to certain individuals or entities with the goal of increasing and improving the public health workforce. H.R. 525 would amend the Public Health 

Service Act by providing access to those programs for certain veterinary health professionals and educational organizations. The bill 

would allow entities that provide education and training in veterinary public health to apply for and receive grant assistance from 

the Public Health Workforce Grant program. In addition, the bill 

would allow certain individuals that will receive or have received 

a degree in veterinary public health to apply for and receive loan 

assistance under the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment 

program. 

Based on the cost of changes in eligibility for grants and assistance in similar programs, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 

525 would have a negligible impact on federal spending over the 

next five years; any additional spending would be subject to the 

availability of appropriated funds. Enacting this legislation would 

not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

H.R. 525 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. State and 

local governments, including public institutions of higher education 

that provide education and training in veterinary public health, 

would benefit from expanded eligibility authorized in the bill. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Lisa Ramirez-Branum. 

This estimate was approved by Holly Harvey, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 

pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation. 


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APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 designates that the short title may be cited as the ‘‘Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of 2011’’. 

Section 2. Inclusion of veterinary public health in certain public 

health workforce provisions 

Section 2 clarifies that ‘‘veterinary public health’’ professionals 

are intended to be included among the health professionals for purposes of two PHSA sections. The first provision, PHSA section 765, 

currently provides authority for the Secretary of HHS to award 

grants and contracts to eligible entities to increase the number of 

individuals in the public health workforce, to enhance the quality 

of the health workforce, and to enhance the ability of the health 

workforce to meet national, state, and local needs. The second provision, PHSA section 776, provides for a loan repayment program 

for public health professionals. Section 2 of the Act clarifies that 

veterinary public health professionals are considered public health 

professionals for the purposes of both PHSA section 765 and PHSA 

section 776. 

Section 2 also defines ‘‘veterinary public health’’ to include veterinarians engaged in one or more of the following areas to the extent 

such areas have an impact on human health: biodefense and emergency preparedness, emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, 

environmental health, ecosystem health, pre-harvest and post-harvest food protection, regulatory medicine, diagnostic laboratory 

medicine, veterinary pathology, biomedical research, practice of 

food animal medicine in rural areas, and government practice. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE VII—HEALTH PROFESSIONS 

EDUCATION 

* * * * * * * 


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PART E—HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND PUBLIC 

HEALTH WORKFORCE 

* * * * * * * 

Subpart 2—Public Health Workforce 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 765. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

(a) * * * 

(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant or contract 

under subsection (a) an entity shall— 

(1) be— 

(A) a health professions school, including an accredited 

school or program of public health, health administration, 

preventive medicine, veterinary public health, or dental 

public health or a school providing health management 

programs; 

* * * * * * * 

(d) ACTIVITIES.—Amounts provided under a grant or contract 

awarded under this section may be used for— 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(6) the retraining of existing public health workers as well 

as for increasing the supply of new practitioners to address priority public health, preventive medicine, veterinary public 

health, public health dentistry, and health administration 

needs; 

* * * * * * * 

Subpart 3—Recruitment and Retention Programs 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 776. PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM. 

(a) * * * 

(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to participate in the Program, an 

individual shall— 

(1)(A) be accepted for enrollment, or be enrolled, as a student 

in an accredited academic educational institution in a State or 

territory in the final year of a course of study or program leading to a øpublic health or health professions degree or certificate¿ public health (including veterinary public health) or 

health professions degree or certificate; and have accepted employment with a Federal, State, local, or tribal public health 

agency, or a related training fellowship, as recognized by the 

Secretary, to commence upon graduation; or 

(B)(i) have graduated, during the preceding 10-year period, 

from an accredited educational institution in a State or territory and received a øpublic health or health professions degree 


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or certificate¿ public health (including veterinary public health) 

or health professions degree or certificate; and 

* * * * * * * 

PART F—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 799B. DEFINITIONS. 

For purposes of this title: 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(27) VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH.—The term ‘‘veterinary public health’’ includes veterinarians engaged in one or more of the 

following areas to the extent such areas have an impact on 

human health: biodefense and emergency preparedness, emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, environmental health, 

ecosystem health, pre- and post-harvest food protection, regulatory medicine, diagnostic laboratory medicine, veterinary pathology, biomedical research, the practice of food animal medicine in rural areas, and government practice. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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