This legislation, authored by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), will help combat a shortage of veterinarians in public health positions. These doctors have unique training that qualifies them to identify, diagnose, control and monitor diseases transmitted from animals to humans.
H.R. 525 will help expand the veterinary public health workforce by offering veterinary school loan repayment for veterinarians who commit to serve in a federal, state, local, or tribal public health agency or who engage in a related training fellowship. The legislation also makes veterinary public health eligible for workforce grants. These grants are awarded to help increase the number of individuals in the public health workforce, to enhance the quality of such workforce and to enhance the ability of the workforce to meet national, state, and local health care needs.
http://www.avma.org/press/releases/110309-Veterinary-Public-Health-Amendments-Act.asp