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[House Report 112-22]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

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 
Baldwin (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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\World Health Organization Study Group on Future Trends in 
Veterinary Public Health, Future Trends in Veterinary Public Health 
(2002).
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    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.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\Government Accountability Office, Veterinarian Workforce: 
Actions Are Needed to Ensure Sufficient Capacity for Protecting Public 
and Animal Health (Feb. 4, 2009) (GAO-09-178).
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    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.
    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:

                                                 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.

                  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

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

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 [public 
        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 [public health or 
        health professions degree 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.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                                  
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