LAC & PAC Board Visit Washington

The past few weeks have been chock-full of 'round-the-clock work in Washington, D.C., and the AVMA Governmental Relations Division has been busy as bees swarming in the hive. Last month, among the many happenings in and outside of our office, GRD hosted the AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee (LAC) and the Political Action Committee (PAC) Board. Members in both committees are veterinarians from around the country, representing all aspects of veterinary medicine. It's invigorating – and always educational – to have them in our office and to hear their stories from the front lines of protecting animal and public health.

During the LAC meeting, committee members, AVMA staff and crucial stakeholders discussed pending legislation and made recommendations about which legislation the AVMA should support (or not support, as the case may be). The recommendations go to the AVMA Executive Board, which sets AVMA policy. The AVMAPAC Policy Board is tasked with overseeing AVMAPAC – setting policy and strategic direction for what has become one of the most powerful PACs in the agriculture services and products sector.

The veterinarian committee members also spent an afternoon on Capitol Hill, visiting the offices of their senators and representatives. The feedback we've been receiving from these visits is astoundingly positive. Every contact our members make with offices on the Hill, even with those who are not our allies, yields dividends. We're confident that more and more Members of Congress are tuning into the essential value of veterinarians, and it's because of exactly these types of encounters.

Finally, nothing caps off a visit to Washington like a good party. To further promote the AVMA's legislative agenda, we hosted a cocktail reception at the Capitol Visitors Center on October 20. The well-attended reception bubbled with interesting conversation. Several members of Congress were in attendance, and key staff members were there as well.

The work of advocacy is rarely boring and, every once in a while, we get to enjoy ourselves.

-- Eric McKeeby, Government Relations Communications Manager