US Congress House Bill 159 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-0)
Status: Introduced on January 3 2017 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2017-02-10 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Federal Lands Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

To expand the workforce of veterinarians specialized in the care and conservation of wild animals and their ecosystems, and to develop educational programs focused on wildlife and zoological veterinary medicine. This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to award grants to wildlife or veterinary institutions to create additional clinical and research positions for wildlife and zoological veterinarians. Preference must be given to institutions that will create positions in areas of need, including wildlife disease research and training, disease surveillance, ecology and wildlife population management, and conservation and management of the health of endangered, threatened, and sensitive species. Interior must establish: (1) the Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Workforce Loan Repayment Program to pay educational loans of eligible individuals for a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine or a graduate degree in veterinary medicine, and (2) the Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Workforce Scholarship Program to award students enrolled in an accredited school or college of veterinary medicine scholarships. Those loans may be repaid and the awards may be given only if the recipient of the loan or the award agrees to serve for at least four consecutive years at a wildlife or veterinary institution as a wildlife or zoological veterinarian. Interior must also: (1) establish a pilot program to award grants to accredited schools and colleges of veterinary medicine to develop or improve new or existing curricula that specialize in wildlife or zoological veterinary medicine, and (2) award grants to eligible wildlife or veterinary institutions to establish or expand training programs that will enhance the ability of a trainee to practice as a wildlife or zoological veterinarian.

To expand the workforce of veterinarians specialized in the care and conservation of wild animals and their ecosystems, and to develop educational programs focused on wildlife and zoological veterinary medicine.

Rep. Alcee Hastings [D-FL]	Rep. Jared Polis [D-CO]	Rep. Jose Serrano [D-NY]	Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D-FL]
Rep. Kurt Schrader [D-OR]	Rep. David Cicilline [D-RI]	Rep. Jamie Raskin [D-MD]	Rep. Eleanor Norton [D-DC]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]	Rep. Bennie Thompson [D-MS]	Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH]	Rep. Nydia Velazquez [D-NY]
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter [D-NH]	Rep. Val Demings [D-FL]	Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN]	Rep. Frederica Wilson [D-FL]
Rep. Filemon Vela [D-TX]

Date	Chamber	Action
2017-02-10	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
2017-02-10	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.
2017-01-13	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.
2017-01-03	House	Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2017-01-03	House	Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2017-01-03	House	Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2017-01-03	House	Introduced in House

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/159/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr159/BILLS-115hr159ih.pdf