NVMSA: an uphill battle

The National Veterinary Medical Services Act (NVMSA) emerges from an obscure initiative in 2001 to passing in both congressional chambers two years later. The act, which amounts to a student loan repayment for veterinarians practicing in underserved areas, takes shape with a 2005 funding allocation. The following chart recaps the events:

May 2001:

HR 1943, the Veterinary Health Enhancement Act (VHEA), the forerunner to NVMSA, is introduced by Rep. Charles W. Pickering. VHEA fails to pass the 107th Congress but lays the groundwork for NVMSA the following year.

December 2001:

S 1836, VHEA, is introduced by Sen. Thad Cochran. The bill gains two cosponsors but fails to pass the 107th Congress.

March 2003:

HR 1367, NVMSA, is introduced by Rep. Pickering. The bill, which now dons a new name, gains 11 cosponsors. Then-United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ann Veneman endorses NVMSA four months later.

November 2003:

S 1858, NVMSA, is introduced by Sen. Thad Cochran. The bill gains 11 cosponsors. Days later, HR 1367 passes the House by voice vote. S 1858 follows, passing by unanimous consent.

December 2003:

NVMSA is signed by the President and becomes Public Law Number 108-161.

November 2005:

NVMSA receives $500,000 in the Agriculture Appropriations Bill for FY 2006.

March 2006:

USDA Secretary Mike Johanns testifies before the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. He states NVMSA will be implemented within 18 months.

January 2007:

Rep. Tom Latham sends a letter to Sec. Johanns inquiring about USDA's lack of progress in writing NVMSA regulations.

February 2007:

Sens. Sam Brownback and Larry Craig issue similar letters to USDA touting the act's importance to rural America. Days later, NVMSA receives $500,000 in FY 2007 as a continuing resolution of the FY 2006 agriculture appropriations measure.