(NAFB.com) – The House and Senate Agriculture Committees have taken action to pass a new Farm Bill that would reauthorize many federal programs essential to veterinary medicine. Working with lawmakers and stakeholder groups, AVMA’s sustained advocacy led to the inclusion of the veterinary profession’s top legislative priorities that will help protect animal welfare and maintain public health. AVMA President Dr. Rena Carlson says, “AVMA’s continued advocacy has led to the inclusion of reauthorizations, funding, and legislation that will help protect animal and human welfare while advancing veterinary medicine.” Key provisions for AVMA include the Healthy Dog Importation Act and reauthorization of animal disease prevention and management programs. Further, AVMA supports the reauthorization of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, and the Veterinary Services Grant Program included in the farm bill. AVMA is the nation’s leading representative of the veterinary profession, speaking for more than 105,000 member veterinarians nationwide.