Veterinary Students Take on Washington, D.C.

By : Susan Dugat

Class of 2011, Texas A&M University

Over 60 veterinary students representing 24 veterinary schools gathered at the Dupont Hotel in Washington, D.C. February 1-2, 2010 for the 2^nd annual Veterinary Student Legislative Day.  The program is organized by the Student AVMA Governmental Affairs Committee and the AVMA Governmental Relations Division (GRD) as an interactive discussion and educational program about advocacy and the legislative process.  Students flew from all across the United States, the Caribbean, and Canada, many taking time over the weekend to tour the nation’s capital as a snowstorm covered the city under inches of white.

The first day of the program focused on giving students an overview of the legislative process and the tools to succeed in Tuesday’s Congressional visits.  Dr. Mark Lutschaunig- Director of the AVMA’s GRD-- began the day by welcoming students to Washington.  Former and current AVMA  Fellows Dr. Ellen Carlin-House Committee on Homeland Security, Dr. Doug Meckes-Acting Director of the Food, Agriculture, and Veterinary Defense Division of the Department of Homeland Security, and Dr. Stic Harris-current AVMA Fellow and staff member in the office of Senator Al Franken-each described their experiences as AVMA Fellows and the opportunities it has afforded them.  The AVMA Fellowship is a year-long paid experience that places veterinarians in the federal government as scientific resources and developers of public policy.  Students learned from the fellows the value of a veterinary degree on Capitol Hill and the role veterinary students and professionals can play in influencing public policy.  Anxious to learn about the specific issues they would carry to Capitol Hill the next day, students eagerly listened as Ms. Gina Luke-Associate Director of the GRD- detailed three of the legislative issues currently most relevant to veterinary students and recent grads.  Eric McKeeby-GRD Communications Manager—moderated as grassroots professionals Joanna Crooks of the American Academy of Dermatology, Molly Nichelson of the American College of Cardiology, and Chelsie Redalen of the National Pork Products Council engaged students in discussion about the importance of grassroots advocacy and staying active and informed through avenues like the AVMA’s Congressional Advocacy Network.  Students also learned the top mistakes made in legislative visits and the most effective ways to “make the ask”.

During the afternoon Congressional staff Brian Baenig-Senior Advisor for the US Senate Agricultural Committee, H.J. Derr-Professional Staff for the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Duncan Neasham, Press Secretary for the US House Committee on Small Business, and Bryan Zumwalt, Legislative Counsel for Senator David Vitter, provided unique insight into the daily life and responsibilities of Congressional staff and their reliance on knowledgeable individuals when forming policy.  Adrian Hochstadt, Director of AVMA State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, expanded the day’s discussions beyond the borders of Washington, DC, discussing current trends in the state legislatures.   Students were given a chance to combine the information they learned through the day during mock congressional visits with Mr. Chris Myrick-Principal, CM Government Relations- and Ms. Gina Luke.  Ready to take on Capitol Hill, students closed the day with a Town Hall meeting with special guest Dr. Gary Brown, Vice President of the AVMA.  Dr. Brown spent the day learning alongside students and visited with his own congressional offices on Tuesday.

Tuesday morning arrived and students anxiously gathered in the hotel lobby, AVMA folders in hand.  After a brief introduction to DC rush hour on the Metro, students arrived on Capitol Hill.  Before setting off for their visits, the group gathered in the House Ag Hearing Room, where Stephanie Fisher, AVMA Grassroots Coordinator, advised students to stay engaged, involved, and informed even after returning home from the Legislative Day.  Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR), the only veterinarian in the House of Representatives, treated students to a long visit, describing his personal journey from private practice in Oregon to public service on the local and state levels, to election to the United States House of Representatives in 2008.  Congressman Schrader illustrated his experiences as a first term Congressman and answered students’ questions about the issues currently facing veterinary medicine, current struggles on Capitol Hill, and reemphasizing the Legislative Day’s theme: the power and value of knowledgeable advocacy to make change. 

 As Congressman Schrader said goodbye, students headed to the House and Senate office buildings to put a whirlwind of information in practice.  Students sat with Congressmen, their staff, and their colleagues to discuss the critical shortages facing veterinary medicine and the proposed solutions: $6 Million in appropriations for The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, Congressional co-sponsorship of the Veterinary Services Investment Act (H.R. 3519/S. 1709)- a competitive grant program to relieve such shortages, and support of The Veterinary Public Health Workforce & Education Act (H.R. 2999).  Students met a final time at the GRD offices to discuss their meetings with GRD staff and say goodbye.

  Students did an outstanding job providing information to Capitol Hill staff and personal accounts of their own loan burdens, future goals, and the impact that the policies discussed could have on their lives and the profession as a whole.  Although student interest ranged from small to large animal practice, from academia and research to federal work and industry, all students contributed a unique perspective to the solutions at hand and spoke not just for themselves, but for their colleagues and the profession.  The total impact of student advocacy will be revealed as the congressional session continues, but already the 2010 Veterinary Student Legislative Day can be marked as a success.  As a result of student advocacy, VSIA received three additional cosponsors and students took home a valuable lesson: Advocacy Works!

For more information about the Veterinary Student Legislative Day please contact your SAVMA Delegate.  Information about the AVMA Fellowship can be found at: http://www.avma.org/advocacy/get_involved/fellowships.asp.