Featured Articles:
NVMSA, FARAD part of billion-dollar funding bill
JAVMA News
The veterinary profession has reason to cheer the $410 billion spending bill President Barack Obama signed March 11.
Included in the fiscal 2009 omnibus legislation are millions of dollars for AVMA-backed programs, such as the National Veterinary Medical Service Act and Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank, as well as expenditures for veterinary education and several animal... More »
Food Safety on Washington's Radar
By Gina Luke, Assistant Director of the GRD
On March 14, President Obama highlighted food safety in his weekly radio address and announced a new working group chaired by the Secretaries of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The working group is charged with producing legislative recommendations for overhauling food safety laws.
Testifying on March 31 before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and the Food and Drug Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, said that too many different agencies are responsible for ... More »
House Holds Hearing on Livestock ID
By Dr. Ashley Shelton, Assistant Director of the GRD
The House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry held a hearing last month to review animal identification systems. The National Animal Identification System (NAIS), currently a voluntary program administered by the USDA, is being reviewed by the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, to determine how to make the program more effective, with an ultimate goal of being able to trace outbreaks of animal of animal diseases to their sources within 48 hours.
Dr. John Clifford, chief veterinary officer at USDA, testified that the program will need to either be made mandatory or provide incentives for producers for producers to sign up under ... More »
USDA Finalizes Non-Ambulatory Cattle Rule
By Dr. Angela Demaree, Assistant Director of the GRD
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made final a rule, supported by the AVMA, that prohibits the slaughter of all non-ambulatory disabled cattle, without exception. On March 18, the USDA published this final rule (PDF), amending regulations for disposing of cattle that become non-ambulatory disabled following ante-mortem inspection. The final rule follows the proposed rule (PDF), which USDA published on August 29, 2008, just months after abuse of non-ambulatory cattle was discovered at a southern California slaughterhouse.
The AVMA responded (PDF) to the proposed rule on September 29, 2008 by recommending its adoption. The rule is ... More »
Veterinary Student Legislative Event Recap
By Melissa Austin & Cia Johnson
As senior veterinary students, we were selected to attend the first annual National Veterinary Student Legislative event, sponsored by the AVMA Governmental Relations Division (AVMA-GRD) and Hill's Pet Nutrition. From March 1-3, we traveled to Washington, D.C. and joined 45 veterinary student representatives (2 from each veterinary college) in learning and experiencing advocacy on Capitol Hill.
To prepare for a lobbying experience, the students' first day was spent in lectures on issues of: effective lobbying tactics, ... More »
Regulatory Update:
Client Disposal of Controlled Substances
By Dr. Elizabeth Curry-Galvin, Director of the Scientific Activities Division
How should pet owners dispose of unused controlled substances? Through programs managed by law enforcement, says the AVMA.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently announced it is seeking options for the disposal of controlled substances by patients, including animal patients. Disposal should be environmentally sound, minimize diversion, and protect ... More »
Opportunities:
AVMAPAC Thanks Donors, Reports Progress
The AVMAPAC Honor Roll of Donors is now online and is part of the 2008 AVMAPAC Biennial Report – 110th Congress, which highlights the progress made in advancing our legislative agenda. We encourage everyone to view the report and thank your colleagues who helped make 2008 a record breaking fundraising year. During the 2008 election cycle, AVMAPAC raised more than $580,000. Because of your contributions to AVMAPAC, we were able to contribute more than $400,000 to 145 campaigns. Due to the AVMAPAC Policy Board's diligence, those funds were invested in candidates who will work with AVMA to preserve the future viability of the veterinary profession, and 87% of these candidates will be working with us in the 111th Congress. View the 2008 AVMAPAC Biennial Report – 110th Congress now.
Join us on Facebook
Join the hundreds of supporters of the Congressional Advocacy Network (AVMA-CAN) – including hundreds of people not affiliated with the veterinary profession – on the popular social networking site Facebook! AVMA-CAN now has a Facebook page. The page is used to help grow the network and amplify AVMA's advocacy efforts. Action alerts and information on pending legislation can be found there. The page is open to all Facebook users, so we encourage you, your family and friends to join our group to help advance the profession of veterinary medicine. Find AVMA-CAN's Facebook page here.
|
= AVMA/SAVMA Members Only
