The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has applauded U.S. Senators Tim Johnson, (D-SD), and Mike Crapo, (R-ID), for introducing the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act.

The bipartisan legislation will help the country address a critical shortage of veterinarians serving our rural areas by making the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) tax-exempt, thereby increasing the number of veterinarians who can participate in the program. The act would also apply to similar state programs that encourage veterinarians to practice in underserved communities, according to AVMA.

The Salt Lake Tribune also reports that the Senate gave final approval to creating a $1.7-million veterinary school partnership between Utah State University (USU) and Washington State University.

The program would allow students to take their first two years of classes at USU, and then take two years of clinics at Washington State.

To read more about these efforts to support veterinary students, link here and here.