AVMA legislative fly-in

Capitol building: Empowering the veterinary profession

The AVMA regularly hosts legislative fly-in events that bring veterinarians and veterinary students to Washington, D.C., for hands-on advocacy experience. Participants receive in-depth briefings about the top policy issues affecting veterinary medicine and meet with their members of Congress to advocate on those issues. These important events ensure that the voice of the veterinary profession is amplified on Capitol Hill.

Fly-in participants also learn how to develop relationships with their elected officials and become trusted voices of veterinary medicine. In this way, the fly-ins showcase the many ways in which AVMA and SAVMA members can use our veterinary expertise to shape public policy.

The 2023 fly-in event was held in person for the first time since congressional offices reopened post-COVID. Over 115 veterinarians and veterinary students from 37 states, representing 17 different veterinary schools, participated in more than 170 meetings with congressional offices.