[House Report 112-22]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
112th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 112-22
======================================================================
VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2011
_______
March 2, 2011.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Upton, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 525]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 525) to amend the Public Health Service Act to
enhance and increase the number of veterinarians trained in
veterinary public health, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill
do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 1
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 2
Committee Consideration.......................................... 2
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 3
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 3
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 3
Earmark.......................................................... 3
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 3
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 3
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 4
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 4
Constitutional Authority Statement...............................
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 5
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 5
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 5
Purpose and Summary
H.R. 525, the ``Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of
2011'', was introduced on February 8, 2011, by Rep. Tammy
Baldwin (D-WI), and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce.
The goal of H.R. 525 is to help increase the number of
veterinary public health professionals.
Background and Need for Legislation
Veterinary medicine is an important component of our public
health system.\1\ Veterinarians protect human health through
early detection and response to disease events that can be
linked to newly-emerging infectious diseases, such as SARS or
West Nile Virus. They can also assist in the response to
threats, such as the 2009 H1N1 (flu) outbreak.
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\1\World Health Organization Study Group on Future Trends in
Veterinary Public Health, Future Trends in Veterinary Public Health
(2002).
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There are critical shortages of veterinarians working in
public health disciplines. A February 2009 report from the
Government Accountability Office warns that ``there is a
growing shortage of veterinarians nationwide, particularly of
veterinarians who care for animals raised for food, serve in
rural communities, and have training in public health.''\2\
Furthermore, the report states that the ``veterinarian shortage
is expected to worsen'' even as ``the demand for veterinarians
is expected to increase.''
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\2\Government Accountability Office, Veterinarian Workforce:
Actions Are Needed to Ensure Sufficient Capacity for Protecting Public
and Animal Health (Feb. 4, 2009) (GAO-09-178).
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Section 765 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA)
provides authority for the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to, or enter
into contracts with, training institutions to increase the
number of individuals in the public health workforce; to
enhance the quality of the workforce; and to enhance the
ability of the workforce to meet national, state, and local
needs. Additionally, Section 776 of the PHSA supports public
health professionals who serve in federal, state, local, and
tribal public health agencies. While veterinary public health
professionals are not excluded from participation in these
programs, it is not clear their participation is permitted.
The House passed legislation similar to H.R. 525 in the
111th Congress (H. Rept. 111-634). No further action was taken
on the legislation during that Congress.
Hearings
The Committee on Energy and Commerce has not held hearings
on H.R. 525. However, the Subcommittee on Health held a
legislative hearing on similar legislation, H.R. 2999, in the
111th Congress on September 15, 2010 (H. Rept. 111-154).
Committee Consideration
H.R. 525, the ``Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of
2011'', was introduced by Ms. Baldwin of Wisconsin on February
8, 2011, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
The bill was subsequently referred to the Subcommittee on
Health on February 8, 2011. The Subcommittee met in open markup
session to consider H.R. 525 on February 11, 2011.
Subsequently, H.R. 525 was favorably forwarded to the full
Committee by a voice vote.
On February 15, 2011, the Committee on Energy and Commerce
met in open markup session to consider H.R. 525 as approved by
the Subcommittee on Health. Subsequently the Committee ordered
H.R. 525 favorably reported to the House by a voice vote.
Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes
on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto.
There were no record votes taken in connection with ordering
H.R. 525 reported. A motion by Mr. Upton to order H.R. 525
reported to the House, without amendment, was agreed to by a
voice vote.
Committee Oversight Findings
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the oversight findings and
recommendations of the Committee are reflected in the
descriptive portions of this report, including the finding that
there are shortages of veterinarians working in public health
disciplines.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the performance goals and
objectives of the Committee are reflected in the descriptive
portions of this report, including the goal of increasing the
number of veterinary public health professionals.
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures
In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R.
525, the ``Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of 2011'',
would result in no new or increased budget authority,
entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues.
Earmark
In compliance with clauses 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule
XXI, the Committee finds that H.R. 525, the ``Veterinary Public
Health Amendments Act of 2011'', contains no earmarks.
Committee Cost Estimate
The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Congressional Budget Office Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate
provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:
February 25, 2011.
Hon. Fred Upton,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 525, Veterinary
Public Health Amendments Act of 2011.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Lisa Ramirez-
Branum.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
H.R. 525--Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of 2011
Under current law, the Health Resources and Services
Administration is authorized to provide loans or grants to
certain individuals or entities with the goal of increasing and
improving the public health workforce. H.R. 525 would amend the
Public Health Service Act by providing access to those programs
for certain veterinary health professionals and educational
organizations. The bill would allow entities that provide
education and training in veterinary public health to apply for
and receive grant assistance from the Public Health Workforce
Grant program. In addition, the bill would allow certain
individuals that will receive or have received a degree in
veterinary public health to apply for and receive loan
assistance under the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment
program.
Based on the cost of changes in eligibility for grants and
assistance in similar programs, CBO estimates that implementing
H.R. 525 would have a negligible impact on federal spending
over the next five years; any additional spending would be
subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting
this legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues;
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
H.R. 525 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. State
and local governments, including public institutions of higher
education that provide education and training in veterinary
public health, would benefit from expanded eligibility
authorized in the bill.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Lisa Ramirez-
Branum. This estimate was approved by Holly Harvey, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 designates that the short title may be cited as
the ``Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act of 2011''.
Section 2. Inclusion of veterinary public health in certain public
health workforce provisions
Section 2 clarifies that ``veterinary public health''
professionals are intended to be included among the health
professionals for purposes of two PHSA sections. The first
provision, PHSA section 765, currently provides authority for
the Secretary of HHS to award grants and contracts to eligible
entities to increase the number of individuals in the public
health workforce, to enhance the quality of the health
workforce, and to enhance the ability of the health workforce
to meet national, state, and local needs. The second provision,
PHSA section 776, provides for a loan repayment program for
public health professionals. Section 2 of the Act clarifies
that veterinary public health professionals are considered
public health professionals for the purposes of both PHSA
section 765 and PHSA section 776.
Section 2 also defines ``veterinary public health'' to
include veterinarians engaged in one or more of the following
areas to the extent such areas have an impact on human health:
biodefense and emergency preparedness, emerging and reemerging
infectious diseases, environmental health, ecosystem health,
pre-harvest and post-harvest food protection, regulatory
medicine, diagnostic laboratory medicine, veterinary pathology,
biomedical research, practice of food animal medicine in rural
areas, and government practice.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE VII--HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION
* * * * * * *
PART E--HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE
* * * * * * *
Subpart 2--Public Health Workforce
* * * * * * *
SEC. 765. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) * * *
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant or
contract under subsection (a) an entity shall--
(1) be--
(A) a health professions school, including an
accredited school or program of public health,
health administration, preventive medicine,
veterinary public health, or dental public
health or a school providing health management
programs;
* * * * * * *
(d) Activities.--Amounts provided under a grant or contract
awarded under this section may be used for--
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(6) the retraining of existing public health workers
as well as for increasing the supply of new
practitioners to address priority public health,
preventive medicine, veterinary public health, public
health dentistry, and health administration needs;
* * * * * * *
Subpart 3--Recruitment and Retention Programs
* * * * * * *
SEC. 776. PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.
(a) * * *
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to participate in the
Program, an individual shall--
(1)(A) be accepted for enrollment, or be enrolled, as
a student in an accredited academic educational
institution in a State or territory in the final year
of a course of study or program leading to a [public
health or health professions degree or certificate]
public health (including veterinary public health) or
health professions degree or certificate; and have
accepted employment with a Federal, State, local, or
tribal public health agency, or a related training
fellowship, as recognized by the Secretary, to commence
upon graduation; or
(B)(i) have graduated, during the preceding 10-year
period, from an accredited educational institution in a
State or territory and received a [public health or
health professions degree or certificate] public health
(including veterinary public health) or health
professions degree or certificate; and
* * * * * * *
PART F--GENERAL PROVISIONS
* * * * * * *
SEC. 799B. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this title:
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(27) Veterinary public health.--The term ``veterinary
public health'' includes veterinarians engaged in one
or more of the following areas to the extent such areas
have an impact on human health: biodefense and
emergency preparedness, emerging and reemerging
infectious diseases, environmental health, ecosystem
health, pre- and post-harvest food protection,
regulatory medicine, diagnostic laboratory medicine,
veterinary pathology, biomedical research, the practice
of food animal medicine in rural areas, and government
practice.
* * * * * * *