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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10617 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10617
To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 to establish a demonstration grant program for
veterinary medicine work-based learning, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 28, 2026
Ms. Brown introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 to establish a demonstration grant program for
veterinary medicine work-based learning, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterinary Expansion and Training
for Comprehensive Animal Resources and Education Act'' or the ``VET
CARE Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR VETERINARY MEDICINE WORK-BASED LEARNING.
The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after section 1415B (7 U.S.C.
3151b) the following:
``SEC. 1415C. GRANTS FOR VETERINARY MEDICINE WORK-BASED LEARNING.
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to
make competitive grants to eligible entities to create, develop,
expand, or scale curriculum in a high school that implements a work-
based learning program focused on veterinary medicine in a State with a
veterinarian shortage situation.
``(b) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use a grant under this
section to carry out the purpose described in subsection (a) by
supporting broader exposure to, and preparation for--
``(1) careers at--
``(A) cooperative extension programs;
``(B) 4-H and FFA organizations;
``(C) school districts and career-technical
centers;
``(D) community and technical colleges or
institutes;
``(E) veterinary clinics and hospitals;
``(F) animal shelters and humane organizations;
``(G) State veterinary medical associations or
boards and State animal health offices; and
``(H) workforce development boards;
``(2) careers in--
``(A) diagnostics;
``(B) epidemiology;
``(C) food safety; and
``(D) animal husbandry; and
``(3) such other careers as the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(c) Conditions.--As a condition on receiving a grant under this
section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary, for each
fiscal year that the eligibility entity receives a grant, the following
information:
``(1) The number of students enrolled in the program funded
by the grant.
``(2) The number of students who graduated from such
program.
``(3) The number of students who are truant (as defined by
the accrediting body or the State of the eligible entity).
``(4) The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate and
extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate of such program.
``(5) The average daily attendance of such program.
``(6) The number and percentage of students entering post-
secondary education, separated by those who enter into an
educational program in a veterinary medicine-related field and
those who do not.
``(7) The number and percentage of students entering the
workforce, separated by those who enter the veterinary medicine
workforce and those who do not.
``(8) The number and percentage of students who
participated in work-based learning involving livestock, equine
animals, or other large animals and, to the extent practicable,
the number and percentage of such students who subsequently
entered postsecondary education, training, or employment in
large-animal or food-animal veterinary medicine.
``(9) Any other information the Secretary determines
necessary to ensure the adequate evaluation of the grants under
this section.
``(d) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the
Secretary--
``(1) may prioritize such grants based on--
``(A) documented veterinary shortage needs in
rural, urban, and suburban settings;
``(B) rural and food animal workforce gaps; and
``(C) state veterinary workforce data; and
``(2) shall prioritize work-based learning programs that--
``(A) provide substantial experience involving
livestock, equine animals, or other large animals; and
``(B) establish a pathway for participating
students to pursue postsecondary education, training,
and long-term employment in large-animal or food-animal
veterinary medicine.
``(e) Definition.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) an accredited veterinary medicine college or
university;
``(B) a cooperative extension program;
``(C) a 4-H or FFA organization;
``(D) a school district or career-technical center;
``(E) a community or technical college or
institute;
``(F) a veterinary clinic or hospital;
``(G) a State veterinary medical association or
board or State animal health office;
``(H) a workforce development board; and
``(I) a Tribal organization.
``(2) High school.--The term `high school' has the meaning
given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(3) State.--The term `State' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and
possessions of the United States.
``(4) Veterinarian shortage situation.--The term
`veterinarian shortage situation' means a veterinarian shortage
situation as determined by the Secretary under section 1415A.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this
section.''.
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