Veterinarian Running for Oregon's 5th District Seat in US Congress

By Gina Luke, Assistant Director of the GRD

Note: A question-and-answer interview with the candidate is featured at the end of the article.

Dr. Kurt Schrader, candidate for the US Congress.

Veterinarian, farmer and small business owner, Kurt Schrader (D) faces Mike Erickson (R) in the upcoming November 4 election to succeed retiring U.S. Representative Darlene Hooley (D – Oregon 5th District). Dr. Schrader owns two clinics, both named Clackamas County Veterinary, and both of which cater to horses and companion animals. Schrader also owns a small, family farm.

"Kurt is a pragmatic, highly principled, persistent leader," says Glenn Kolb, executive director of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), "As a state legislator he has been effective in advancing a number of important issues for veterinary medicine in the state. I know he will continue to demonstrate strong leadership on issues important to veterinary medicine when he is elected to Congress. He recognizes and understands the concerns and struggles faced by small business owners and the issues facing the profession."

Dr. Schrader has served in Oregon state legislature since 1997, first in the House of Representatives and then, beginning in 2003, in the state Senate. During his tenure, Schrader has been a leading advocate for veterinary medicine -- sponsoring legislation supported by the OVMA. He was instrumental in securing much needed state funding for the diagnostic laboratory at Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis. The lab is a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and provides surveillance and response testing for foreign animal diseases in partnership with the USDA. Dr. Schrader also helped navigate the legislative hurdles necessary to establish a full-time, four-year veterinary program at OSU.

Included among the topics addressed in Schrader sponsored legislation that was successfully passed are:

• those to add bacteriological or biological products to the list of those that are a hazard to livestock
• a bill requiring veterinarians to report suspected aggravated animal abuse
• a bill to authorize holders of temporary licenses to practice veterinary medicine and authorization for those with veterinary intern permits to administer certain animal health products
• and legislation which exempts certain veterinarians licensed by Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board from regulation by Oregon Student Assistance Commission.

Dr. Schrader is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, OVMA, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the Oregon Farm Bureau and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University in 1973 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois in 1977.

Q & A with Dr. Kurt Schrader, Veterinarian Running for Oregon's 5th
District Seat in US Congress

1. Do you plan to address issues of importance to veterinarians while in office? Yes
   
   If so, please describe the primary issues you are most interested in addressing.
   
   Yes, I would anticipate that I could work with the AVMA and veterinarians across the country to help facilitate mutually acceptable outcomes on a host of issues like I did with the OVMA in Oregon. I will play a key role on issues such as livestock identification, curbing animal abuse and a plethora of other issues important to veterinarians around our country.
   
   
2. What will you do to foster and increase support for Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD)? The physical and economic health of the nation depends on a safe and reliable food animal supply. The primary source of scientifically based information regarding when food can enter the food supply is FARAD which does not have permanent, multi-year funding.
   
   Food safety is becoming an increasing concern as we enter a more global economy with many countries now having the same environmental, workplace, food safety and health practices that we enjoy in our country. We definitely need adequate scientific data to make good policy, and as a Member of Congress, I will support increased research to ensure we are as prepared as we can be.
   
   
3. Our nation has a critical shortage of the veterinarians who work to protect us from food-borne diseases. We need more veterinarians, including new graduates, to enter and stay in food-supply careers. We need more veterinary medical students to consider the careers in food supply veterinary medicine and more pre-veterinary students with plans to go into this critical discipline of veterinary medicine. What will you do to foster the recruitment and retention of veterinarians in these areas?
   
   I will work with the AVMA and Veterinary Colleges around the country to create programs such as new scholarship or loan repayment/forgiveness for those willing to commit to spend a period of time in rural practices that are desperate for quality veterinary care.
   
   
4. What are you MOST proud of from your service in the Oregon State Legislature?
   
   I'm proud of my work to engage citizens in their own government. I have also worked hard to implement performance based budgeting which seeks to ensure tax dollars are being spent effectively based on successful programs.
   
   
5. Why should veterinarians all across the country support you in your election bid for Congress?
   
   I'm looking forward to serving in the U.S. Congress to be a voice for the veterinary community and animal welfare legislation.
   
   I feel it is extremely important for our country to have the expertise of a veterinarian in Congress on such issues as animal rights, food safety and lots of other animal issues.
   
   I hope my colleagues around the country will consider supporting me because they know my experience will make me a unique voice in the U.S. Congress for veterinary issues.

Learn more about Dr. Schrader at http://www.kurtschrader.com/ or contact Kurt Schrader for Congress, 607 N. Main Street, Suite 240, Oregon City, OR 97045. Telephone: 503-723-6174, email: campaign@kurtschrader.com.

To reach Gina Luke, email gluke@avma.org.