Veterinarians take their messages to legislators

If it wasn’t for the federal Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), Dr. Jessica Koppien-Fox, a veterinary consultant in rural Minnesota, would have had a difficult time paying back her $300,000-plus student loan.

She was one of more than 360 veterinarians, veterinary students, and state VMA leaders representing 37 veterinary schools along with 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., who took part in the AVMA’s annual legislative fly-in on July 17 to Capitol Hill. The event was held before AVMA Convention 2025 and the 40th World Veterinary Association Congress in D.C.

They came prepared with stories and information to share during 274 meetings with U.S. senators and representatives as they advocated for two critical issues: recruiting and retaining veterinarians in rural and underserved areas and helping address illicit xylazine while maintaining veterinary access to the animal drug.

Veterinary advocates visited congressional offices to build legislative momentum and urge swift passage of the AVMA-endorsed Rural Veterinary Workforce Act (H.R. 2398/S. 1163) and the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act (H.R. 1266/S. 545).

Rural veterinary medicine

Dr. Sherilynn Burkman, of Pocatello, Idaho, met with Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson’s staff member, and later with Idaho Sen. James Risch, encouraging them to cosponsor the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act. She pointed out that several veterinarians in the state are nearing retirement, and if they don’t take action soon, an already dire situation could become worse.

Participants in the VMLRP receive up to $120,000 toward student loan debt in exchange for three years of service in any U.S. Department of Agriculture–designated veterinary shortage area. In 2025, USDA designated 243 veterinary shortage areas across 46 states.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act would enhance the effectiveness of the VMLRP by doing away with the federal taxes the USDA is currently required to pay on behalf of the award recipients—something that human and other health care professions’ award funds are already exempt from. In doing so, the bill would free up approximately 39% of already appropriated dollars for the program and allow more food animal and public health veterinarians to practice in the areas most in need.

Nebraska Rep. Adrian Smith and Connecticut Rep. John Larson reintroduced the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act this Congressional session, and it was referred to the Ways and Means Committee. Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo and Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith reintroduced the companion bill, which has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

Dr. Amanda Taylor, Alaska delegate in the AVMA House of Delegates and emergency veterinarian, informed Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan of a similar need for help via the VMLRP. For example, a few years ago, the city of Juneau, Alaska, had 12 veterinarians and now it is down to seven.

Recruiting and retaining veterinary professionals continues to be challenging, especially in public practice, because of more competitive wages in private practice, the high cost of living in Alaska, and the remote nature of the state.

“To have a sustainable career, this is necessary,” she said, adding that removing the tax burden would further help.

Currently, all USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture programs, which administers the VMLRP, are paused and under review.

Access to xylazine

Another ongoing issue fly-in attendees brought to legislators’ attention was access to xylazine. The drug is essential for the safe handling of many species, particularly livestock, given there is no practical alternative for sedation in cattle.

However, illicit xylazine is being unlawfully mixed with fentanyl, and this drug combination has posed health and safety risks for humans. States have created a patchwork of rules and regulations to address the issue.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) also is in the process of making xylazine a controlled drug. But doing so without statutory changes will limit how veterinarians use the drug and increase the risk of supply disruption.

The bill’s provisions would equip law enforcement with additional tools to stop xylazine trafficking while maintaining veterinarians’ ability to legitimately use xylazine.

If it becomes law, the legislation will add xylazine to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act and contains several statutory changes to ensure critical uses of the drug remain legal, help preserve the viability of the drug on the U.S. market and allow the DEA transparency into the market. Passage of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act is needed to avoid the unintended consequences of administrative scheduling by the DEA.

In addition, a federal solution is necessary to alleviate the growing patchwork of state-by-state xylazine restrictions across the U.S. Only Congress can make the statutory changes necessary to help preserve the availability of the drug for its critical uses in veterinary medicine as a controlled drug. Scheduling of xylazine by the DEA without these statutory changes will limit how veterinarians use the drug and increase the risk of supply disruption or cause drug makers to stop production.

Dr. Rena Carlson, immediate past AVMA president and Idaho resident, told her representatives that the DEA and Food and Drug Administration provided technical assistance in crafting the legislation.

The bill strikes the right balance of helping protect our communities from the illicit drug while ensuring manufacturers will still make it, she said.

“We want to be part of the solution, not the problem, because we’re limited on what we have to sedate large animals,” Dr. Carlson said. “We want our veterinarians safe and ensure our animals are treated humanely with care and compassion.”

Passing the House in the 118th Congress, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act was reintroduced by California Rep. Jimmy Panetta and Texas Rep. August Pfluger in the 119th Congress and it was referred to the Energy and Commerce and Judiciary committees. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley reintroduced the companion bill, which has been referred to the Judiciary Committee. It currently has 85 co-sponsors.

A group of Iowa veterinarians, including Dr. Molly Lee, an associate director of Center for Food Security and Public Health, and Dr. Bill Williams, clinical assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences at Iowa State University, met with Grassley’s staff members to thank their representative for his advocacy on behalf of the profession, particularly on this issue.

A version of this story appears in the September 2025 print issue of JAVMA

2025 AVMA legislative fly-in hits record numbers

In just a four-hour period on Wednesday, the AVMA brought 364 individuals to Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of the veterinary profession by attending 274 meetings with U.S. senators and representatives.

Dr. Kent McClure, AVMA's assistant executive vice president as well as chief advocacy officer, announced Friday that this was the annual event's largest attendance. The fly-in proved even more of a success by garnering two more co-sponsors of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. (Video by Matt Zingale)