(5) Veterinarians are uniquely qualified to ad-
dress these high priority public health issues because 
of their extensive professional training in basic bio-
medical sciences, population medicine, and broad, 
multi-species, comparative medical approach to dis-
ease prevention and control. 
(6) There is a shortage of veterinarians working 
in veterinary public health. 
(7) The Government Accountability Office 
(GAO) released a study in February 2009 that fo-
cused on the Federal Government’s lack of veteri-
nary manpower and coordination of human capital 
needs for veterinarians (GAO–09–178). The GAO 
report found the workforce shortage will worsen ‘‘as 
a result of space constraints at the Nation’s 28 vet-
erinary colleges’’. 
(8) The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 
there to be 28,000 job openings in the veterinary 
medical profession by 2012 due to growth and net 
replacements, a turnover of nearly 38 percent. 
(9) The Nation’s veterinary medical colleges do 
not have the capacity to meet the current and future 
demand for veterinarians and veterinary expertise 
that is vital to maintain public health preparedness. 
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(10) The Federal Government has not provided 
resources to increase the number of veterinarians in 
the workforce in over 30 years. 
SEC. 3. VETERINARY EDUCATION CAPACITY BUILDING INI-
TIATIVES THROUGH THE NATIONAL CENTER 
FOR RESEARCH RESOURCES. 
Subpart 1 of part E of title IV of the Public Health 
Service Act is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 481E. VETERINARY EDUCATION CAPACITY BUILDING 
GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Director of the National Center for Research Re-
sources, shall award competitive grants to eligible entities 
for purposes of increasing the number of veterinarians in 
the workforce and veterinary teaching faculty in the field 
of veterinary public health as defined by section 774. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall— 
‘‘(1) be— 
‘‘(A) a public or other nonprofit college or 
school of veterinary medicine accredited by the 
American Veterinary Medical Association; 
‘‘(B) a public or nonprofit, department of 
comparative medicine, department of veterinary 
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science, school of public health, or school of 
medicine that is accredited by at least one rec-
ognized body approved for such purpose by the 
Department of Education and that offers grad-
uate training for veterinarians in an area of 
veterinary public health; or 
‘‘(C) a public or nonprofit entity that con-
ducts residency training programs for veterinar-
ians that are approved by a veterinary specialty 
organization that is recognized by the American 
Veterinary Medical Association and that offers 
advanced training for veterinarians in an area 
of veterinary public health; and 
‘‘(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an 
application, at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may re-
quire. 
‘‘(c) CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS.—The Sec-
retary shall establish procedures to ensure that applica-
tions submitted under subsection (b)(2) are rigorously re-
viewed and that grants are competitively awarded based 
on— 
‘‘(1) the ability of the applicant to increase the 
number of veterinarians who are trained in areas of 
veterinary public health; 
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‘‘(2) the ability of the applicant to increase ca-
pacity in research on high priority disease agents; 
‘‘(3) the ability of the applicant to increase the 
number of faculty who are trained in areas of veteri-
nary public health; or 
‘‘(4) any other consideration the Secretary de-
termines necessary. 
‘‘(d) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants under sub-
section (a)(1), the Secretary shall give preference to— 
‘‘(1) applicants that involve more than one col-
lege or school of veterinary medicine, department of 
comparative medicine, department of veterinary 
science, school or program of public health, school of 
medicine, or residency training program that offers 
postgraduate training for veterinarians in an area 
defined in section 774; and 
‘‘(2) applicants that significantly increase en-
rollment in veterinary public health education pro-
grams. 
‘‘(e) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts received under a 
grant in this section shall be used by a grantee to increase 
the number of veterinarians in the workforce through— 
‘‘(1) paying the costs associated with construc-
tion, the acquisition of equipment, and other capital 
costs relating to the expansion of new or existing 
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colleges or schools of veterinary medicine, depart-
ments of comparative medicine, departments of vet-
erinary science, or entities offering residency train-
ing programs to veterinarians; 
‘‘(2) paying the capital costs associated with the 
expansion of academic programs that offer post-
graduate training for veterinarians or concurrent 
training for students in veterinary public health; 
‘‘(3) paying the salaries associated with hiring 
additional faculty to meet an increase in veterinary 
student capacity; 
‘‘(4) developing a veterinary public health cur-
riculum to attract veterinarians into careers in pub-
lic health; and 
‘‘(5) providing scholarships to graduated veteri-
narians or veterinary students to receive a master’s 
in public health. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, $100,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2011, and $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2012 through 2014. Such sums shall remain available 
until expended.’’. 
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SEC. 4. ENHANCING THE PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARY 
MEDICINE WORKFORCE. 
Part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 294n et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subpart: 
‘‘Subpart 3—Veterinary Medicine Workforce 
‘‘SEC. 771. VETERINARY FACULTY LOAN REPAYMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Administrator of the Health Resources and 
Services Administration, may enter into an agreement 
with eligible individuals for the repayment of education 
loans, in accordance with this section, to increase the num-
ber of qualified veterinary faculty in the field of veterinary 
public health. 
‘‘(b) AGREEMENTS.—Each agreement entered into 
under subsection (a) shall require that the eligible indi-
vidual shall serve as a full-time member of the faculty of 
a school of veterinary medicine accredited by the American 
Veterinary Medical Association, or a department of com-
parative medicine, department of veterinary science, 
school of public health, or school of medicine accredited 
by the Department of Education for a total period, in the 
aggregate, of at least four consecutive years during the 
ten-year period beginning on the later of— 
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‘‘(1) the date on which the individual receives 
a master’s level degree in an approved field of study 
and doctorate veterinary medicine degree from a col-
lege or school of veterinary medicine accredited by 
the Department of Education or a doctorate in an-
other approved field of study; or 
‘‘(2) the date on which the individual enters 
into an agreement under subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) AGREEMENT PROVISIONS.—Agreements entered 
into pursuant to subsection (a) shall be entered into on 
such terms and conditions as the Secretary may specify, 
consistent with the following: 
‘‘(1) Not later than 10 months after the date 
on which the ten-year period described in subsection 
(b) begins, but in no case before the individual 
starts as a full-time member of the faculty of a 
school, department, or college described in such sub-
section, the Secretary shall begin making payments, 
for and on behalf of that individual, on the out- 
standing principal of, and interest on, any loan of 
that individual obtained to pay for such degree. 
‘‘(2) For an individual who has completed a 
master’s level degree in an approved field of study— 
‘‘(A) payments may not exceed $10,000 
per calendar year; and 
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‘‘(B) total payments may not exceed 
$40,000. 
‘‘(3) For an individual who has completed a 
doctorate degree in an approved field of study— 
‘‘(A) payments may not exceed $25,000 
with respect to fiscal year 2010, adjusted for 
subsequent fiscal years to reflect the increase in 
Consumer Price Index; and 
‘‘(B) total payments may not exceed 
$100,000 with respect to fiscal year 2010, ad-
justed for subsequent fiscal years to reflect the 
increase in Consumer Price Index. 
‘‘(d) BREACH OF AGREEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of any agree-
ment made under subsection (a), the individual is 
liable to the Federal Government for the total 
amount paid by the Secretary under such agree-
ment, and for interest on such amount at the max-
imum legal prevailing rate, if the individual fails to 
meet the agreement terms required under subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(2) WAIVER, SUSPENSION, OR CANCELLATION 
OF LIABILITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an indi-
vidual making an agreement for purposes of 
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paragraph (1), the Secretary may suspend or 
waive, in whole or in part, liability under such 
paragraph in accordance with this paragraph if 
the Secretary deems compliance by the indi-
vidual cannot be fulfilled. The Secretary or the 
designee of the Secretary shall review all re-
quests for suspensions and waivers under this 
paragraph. In addition, the Secretary may can-
cel or terminate an agreement made under sub-
section (a) under very limited circumstances 
consistent with the provisions of this paragraph. 
‘‘(B) SUSPENSION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A suspension of li-
ability of an individual under paragraph 
(1) may be granted under subparagraph 
(A) if compliance with such liability by the 
individual is temporarily impossible or 
would involve a temporary extreme hard 
ship such that enforcement of the liability 
would be unconscionable. 
‘‘(ii) MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION; ILL-
NESS OF FAMILY MEMBER.—Such a sus-
pension shall be granted under subpara-
graph (A), for not more than one year, if 
the participant provides independent med-
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ical documentation of a physical or mental 
health disability, or a terminal illness of an 
immediate family member, that results in 
the participant’s temporary inability to 
perform the obligation. 
‘‘(iii) CALL TO ACTIVE DUTY IN THE 
ARMED FORCES.—Such a suspension shall 
be granted under subparagraph (A) if the 
participants is a member of a reserve com-
ponent of the Armed Forces who is called 
to serve on active duty, but for not more 
than one year beginning on the activation 
date described in the member’s call to ac-
tive duty order. 
‘‘(C) WAIVER.—A waiver of liability of an 
individual under paragraph (1) may be granted 
under subparagraph (A) if compliance by the 
individual is permanently impossible or would 
involve a permanent extreme hardship such that 
enforcement of the liability would be uncon-
scionable. 
‘‘(D) CANCELLATION.—The liability of an 
individual under paragraph (1) may be can-
celled in its entirety upon the death of the indi-
vidual. 
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‘‘(3) DATE CERTAIN FOR RECOVERY.—Subject 
to paragraph (2), any amount that the Federal Gov-
ernment is entitled to recover under paragraph (1) 
shall be paid to the United States not later than the 
expiration of the 3-year period beginning on the date 
the United States becomes so entitled. 
‘‘(4) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts recovered under 
paragraph (1) shall be available to the Secretary for 
making loan repayments under this section and shall 
remain available for such purpose until expended. 
‘‘(e) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL DEFINED.—For the pur-
poses of this section, the term ‘eligible individual’ means 
an individual who— 
‘‘(1) is a United States citizen, national, or law-
ful permanent resident; 
‘‘(2)(A) has a degree in an approved field of 
study as defined in section 774; or 
‘‘(B) is enrolled on a full-time or part-time 
basis in such a program. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2010 through 2014 to carry out this section. Such sums 
shall remain available until expended. 
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‘‘SEC. 772. VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH FELLOWSHIPS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
Administration, shall establish fellowship programs de-
scribed in subsections (b) and (c) for veterinarians to pro-
vide on-the-job training in food systems security and vet-
erinary public health. 
‘‘(b) FULL-TIME ONE-YEAR FELLOWSHIPS.—The fel-
lowship program described in this subsection is a program 
under which— 
‘‘(1) eligible individuals are hired through the 
Department of Health and Human Services as fel-
lows for a one-year period on a full-time basis; 
‘‘(2) the Secretary may enter into cooperative 
agreements with other departments and agencies of 
the Federal Government that employ veterinarians 
(including the United States Department of Agri-
culture, the United States Agency for International 
Development, the Department of the Interior, the 
Department of Commerce, the Department of 
Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection 
Agency, and the Department of Defense) under 
which such fellows are placed with such other de-
partments and agencies; 
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‘‘(1) eligible individuals are hired on a part-time 
basis through the Department of Health and Human 
Services as fellows; 
‘‘(2) the Secretary may enter into cooperative 
agreements with other departments and agencies of 
the Federal Government that have employ veterinar-
ians (including but not limited to: the United States 
Department of Agriculture, the United States Agen-
cy for International Development, the Department of 
the Interior, the Department of Commerce, the De-
partment of Homeland Security, the Environmental 
Protection Agency, and the Department of Defense) 
under which such fellows are placed with such other 
departments and agencies; 
‘‘(3) to be eligible to receive a fellowship an in-
dividual shall be enrolled in a school of veterinary 
medicine or a graduate of a school of veterinary 
medicine; 
‘‘(4) with respect to an eligible individual par-
ticipating in such program, the Federal Government 
agrees to pay a monthly stipend for each month of 
such participation in the amount of $2,000 for fiscal 
year 2010; adjusted for subsequent fiscal years to 
reflect the increase in Consumer Price Index; and 
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‘‘(5) from amounts appropriated for carrying 
out this section, the Secretary shall transfer funds 
to the head of each agency participating in such pro-
gram for the costs of supporting the beginning sala-
ries of such veterinarians at such agency for not 
more than 2 years. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, 
$2,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 
2014. For fiscal years after fiscal year 2010 such amount 
shall be adjusted to reflect the increase in Consumer Price 
Index. Such sums shall remain available until expended. 
‘‘SEC. 773. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DIVISION OF VETERI-
NARY MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH AT 
HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMIN-
ISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish, 
within the Health Resources and Services Administration, 
a Division of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, to 
administer programs related to veterinary medicine and 
public health. 
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR.—The Secretary shall appoint an in-
dividual to direct the Division who is a distinguished lead-
er from the field of veterinary medicine or public health. 
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‘‘SEC. 774. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘For purposes of this subpart: 
‘‘(1) VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH DEFINED.— 
The term ‘veterinary public health’ includes— 
‘‘(A) biodefense and emergency prepared-
ness, emerging and reemerging infectious dis-
eases, environmental health, ecosystem health, 
pre and post-harvest food protection, regulatory 
medicine, diagnostic laboratory medicine, veteri-
nary pathology, biomedical research, rural and 
government practice; and 
‘‘(B) the sum of all contributions to the 
physical, mental, and social well-being of hu-
mans through an understanding and application 
of veterinary science. 
‘‘(2) APPROVED FIELD OF STUDY.—The term 
‘approved field of study’ includes— 
‘‘(A) doctoral degrees (VMD, DVM, MD, 
DO, PhD, DDS) in veterinary medicine, human 
medicine, or another appropriate and applicable 
scientific field; and 
‘‘(B) Masters degrees in veterinary pre-
ventative medicine, public health, science, vet-
erinary science, or another appropriate and ap-
plicable scientific field.’’. 
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SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. 
Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
through the Assistant Secretary for Legislation, shall sub-
mit to Congress an implementation plan for all provisions 
of this Act and amendments made by this Act. 
Æ 
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