News Update:

Veterinary Medicine and the Election
By Dr. Mark Lutschaunig, Director of the GRD
It is an exciting time to be in Washington, D.C., working on behalf of the veterinary profession. The election was truly a historic event, electing our first African-American President and increasing Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate. We are...More »

Featured Articles:

Senator, Veterinarian Wayne Allard Reflects on Service
By Gina Luke, Assistant Director of the GRD
Ever since Wayne Allard, R-Co., was first elected to the U.S House of Representatives in 1991 (and then to the U.S. Senate in 1996), America's veterinarians have had a strong ally in Congress. Unfortunately, Senator Allard will retire from elected office and return to private life following the November elections...  More »

AVMA Working on Campaign for Public Health
By Dr. Ashley Shelton, Assistant Director of the GRD
Hoping to have animal health included in discussions on public health reform, the AVMA has been meeting with and providing input to the Congressional Study Group on Public Health. The Campaign for Public Health partnered with the Study Group earlier this fall to host Capitol Hill meetings for congressional...  More »

Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act
By Dr. Heather Case, Emergency Preparedness & Response Coordinator
In the wake of 2005's Hurricane Katrina, the urgent need to address animal issues in emergency preparedness and response became very apparent. Specifically, in the document titled "The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned," the White House...  More »

All-Star Advocacy – What It's All About
By Christine Baker, PAC Manager
Many of you have heard about our new All Star Advocate leadership positions within the AVMA Congressional Advocacy Network (AVMA-CAN). There were a lot of requests for more information, but not many individuals signed up for the job! So, let's clear up some misconceptions. First, to answer a common question...  More »

AVMA Congressional Fellows placed in Senate offices
The AVMA's Congressional Science Fellows have accepted positions in offices on Capitol Hill and are serving in capacities that coincide with their interests and enable them to provide expertise to Congress, all while serving the veterinary profession. Both of the 2008-2009 fellows, Dr. Gail Hansen and Dr. Whitney Miller, are...  More »

Dues Season and PAC Contributions
By Christine Baker, PAC Manager
Now that the dues season is upon us, I wanted to call attention to an insert in your membership renewal package.   More »

Regulatory Update:

New Veterinary Pesticide Incident Reporting Site
By Dr. Angela Demaree, Assistant Director of the GRD
The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) has developed a web site for veterinarians to report adverse events related to pesticide exposure in animals. This new site is accessible to veterinarians through the AVMA website under the... More »

Opportunities:

Want to Make a Difference? Become an AVMA Fellow!
The AVMA is accepting applications for 2009-2010 AVMA Congressional Science and Executive Branch Fellowships. Whether you are finding a professional path, or looking for a new one, the AVMA's Fellowships offer you the chance to make a difference in the veterinary profession and the world we live in today. The AVMA Fellowship Program offers veterinarians the opportunity to spend a year in Washington, D.C., working in the federal government as a scientific resource. The Fellowships are intended to help veterinarians garner a better understanding of the governmental process, gain insight into the future of science and the veterinary profession, while at same time assisting in creating the legislation and regulations that affect our nation and profession. Learn more.

Join the Congressional Advocacy Network on Facebook
Join the nearly 500 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 and a Facebook group. Both are used to help grow the network and amplify AVMA's advocacy efforts. Action alerts and information on pending legislation can be found there. Members can post photos, messages and videos. Both are open to any and 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 group here and the page here.

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