Senate Veterinary Medicine Caucus Expands to Address Critical Issues in Animal and Public Health

The U.S. Senate Veterinary Medicine Caucus, a bipartisan group dedicated to advancing veterinary policy and public health priorities, has expanded its membership in the 119th Congress. Originally founded in 2023, the caucus is co-chaired by Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and brings together lawmakers focused on addressing the growing challenges within the veterinary field.

With a mission to advocate for stronger veterinary services across rural America and within public health sectors, the caucus plays a pivotal role in highlighting how veterinary professionals impact the nation's food supply, disease prevention systems, and medical research. This expansion comes at a time when the U.S. faces significant veterinary workforce shortages, especially in large animal and rural public service roles.

One of the caucus’s main priorities is addressing the national shortage of veterinarians working in food animal medicine, particularly in underserved rural areas. As animal diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza and threats like the New World Screwworm continue to emerge, the importance of veterinary oversight in agriculture and public health becomes even more critical.

The caucus also seeks to elevate the role of veterinarians beyond small animal practice, drawing attention to their contributions in disease surveillance, food safety inspection, biomedical research, and emergency preparedness. These non-clinical roles are crucial to both human and animal health, especially in the detection and control of zoonotic diseases.

By working closely with professional organizations like the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Senate Veterinary Medicine Caucus aims to ensure that federal legislation and funding decisions reflect the importance of veterinary professionals in protecting both the nation’s health and its agricultural economy.

This expanded coalition is expected to play a key role in shaping future public policy that supports veterinary medicine education, workforce sustainability, and research funding, while reinforcing the profession’s integral role in national health security.