More than 340 veterinary professionals representing all 50 states and 37 veterinary schools will head to Capitol Hill on July 17 as part of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) annual legislative fly-in. The group will meet with lawmakers to support two key legislative efforts: preserving veterinary access to xylazine while curbing its illicit use, and strengthening the veterinary workforce in rural and underserved areas. Advocates will urge support for the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which seeks to give the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA ) oversight while ensuring veterinarians can continue using the sedative, and the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act, which would make student loan repayment awards through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), tax-free. “Passage of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act strikes the right balance of addressing the emerging threat of illicit xylazine while preserving veterinary access to an animal sedative used widely across the profession,” says Dr. Sandra Faeh, AVMA President. Dr. Faeh also highlighted the critical need for veterinary professionals in underserved areas: “The need to recruit and retain veterinarians in rural and underserved communities has never been greater, and the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act is a major step toward filling these veterinary voids that jeopardize public and animal health.” She added, “The AVMA’s fly-in is a special opportunity to engage with members of Congress and their staffs about topics of importance to the veterinary profession, and we look forward to offering our unique perspective to lawmakers as they consider legislation that will directly affect veterinarians across the country.”
