Congresswoman Shontel Brown Introduces Legislation to Address Nationwide Veterinarian Shortage
Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), Vice Ranking Member on the House Committee on Agriculture, has introduced the VET CARE Act. This legislation aims to establish a competitive federal grant program through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support work-based learning initiatives. These programs are designed to expose high school-aged students to veterinary medicine. The VET CARE Act authorizes the USDA to provide grants to various entities, including schools, 4-H or FFA organizations, veterinary clinics and hospitals, and animal health offices. The goal is to create, develop, or expand programs that offer practical experience in veterinary medicine. This initiative comes in response to a significant nationwide veterinarian shortage, with the USDA identifying shortages in 46 states in 2025. A report from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Farm Journal Foundation indicated that Ohio alone faces a projected shortage of 60...