[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 159 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 159
To expand the workforce of veterinarians specialized in the care and
conservation of wild animals and their ecosystems, and to develop
educational programs focused on wildlife and zoological veterinary
medicine.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2017
Mr. Hastings (for himself and Mr. Polis) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to
the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To expand the workforce of veterinarians specialized in the care and
conservation of wild animals and their ecosystems, and to develop
educational programs focused on wildlife and zoological veterinary
medicine.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be referred to as the ``Wildlife
Veterinarians Employment and Training Act'' or the ``Wildlife VET
Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Purposes.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. Implementing authority and cooperation between departments and
agencies.
TITLE I--WILDLIFE AND ZOOLOGICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE WORKFORCE
EXPANSION
Sec. 101. Grants to create positions for wildlife and zoological
veterinarians.
Sec. 102. Loan repayment program for veterinary students and
veterinarians specializing in wildlife and
zoological populations.
Sec. 103. Scholarship program for veterinary students specializing in
wildlife and zoological populations.
TITLE II--WILDLIFE AND ZOOLOGICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE EDUCATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 201. Grants to accredited schools and colleges of veterinary
medicine for curricula in wildlife and
zoological veterinary medicine.
Sec. 202. Grants to develop training programs in wildlife and
zoological veterinary medicine.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Fish and wildlife are important natural resources of
the United States. They belong to all citizens, and are managed
in perpetuity by State and Federal conservation agencies, often
with significant assistance from universities, zoos, aquariums,
and nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations.
(2) Wildlife and zoological veterinarians are the primary
source of essential health care for wild animals in their
natural habitat and in captivity in facilities such as zoos,
wildlife refuges, breeding reserves, and aquariums.
(3) Wildlife and zoological veterinarians have the
resources and expertise necessary to help respond to
environmental disasters and address short-term and long-term
impacts on wildlife and their habitats. Wildlife and zoological
veterinarians have proven to be essential to the rescue and
rehabilitation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico region following
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that began on April 20, 2010.
(4) According to the Department of the Interior, wildlife
disease expertise and resources are critical to protecting both
human and animal life.
(5) Wildlife veterinarians have been actively involved in
preventing, detecting, and responding to such important exotic,
dangerous, and zoonotic diseases as anthrax, avian influenza,
brucellosis, tuberculosis, West Nile virus, SARS, chronic
wasting disease, and foot and mouth disease.
(6) Globalization, climate change, and wildlife habitat
loss and alteration, along with a growing interface among
humans, livestock, and wildlife have increased the threat posed
by emerging infectious diseases to humans, domestic animals,
and wildlife.
(7) According to the February 2009 report by the Government
Accountability Office entitled ``Veterinarian Workforce:
Actions Are Needed to Ensure Sufficient Capacity for Protecting
Public and Animal Health'', the Nation is facing a growing
shortage of veterinarians, and the Federal Government may not
have the necessary veterinarian workforce to control pandemic
and large-scale outbreaks of disease.
(8) There is a shortage of positions for wildlife and
zoological veterinarians at the State, Federal, nonprofit, and
university levels due to inadequate funding. According to the
American Veterinary Medical Association (``AVMA''), less than
one percent of AVMA members identify themselves as wildlife or
zoological veterinarians.
(9) According to the AVMA, a growing number of students
enter veterinary schools with an interest in wildlife or
zoological veterinary medicine, but choose different fields of
study and practice due to the small number of positions
available for wildlife and zoological veterinarians upon
graduation.
(10) Veterinary students face large educational debt upon
graduation. According to the AVMA, graduating student loan debt
averaged $151,672 in 2012, a 6.4 percent increase from 2011.
(11) According to the American Association of Wildlife
Veterinarians (``AAWV'') and National Association of Federal
Veterinarians (``NAFV''), salaries for wildlife and zoological
veterinarians are relatively low compared to the average
salaries of veterinarians in companion animal medicine. Lower
salaries, combined with high educational debt and the small
number of positions available in wildlife and zoological
veterinary medicine, discourage students from pursuing careers
in wildlife or zoological veterinary medicine.
(12) According to the AAWV and NAFV, most schools and
colleges of veterinary medicine lack both a comprehensive
curriculum and sufficient numbers of formal educational
programs specializing in wildlife or zoological veterinary
medicine to adequately prepare graduates for a competitive
workplace.
(13) According to the AVMA, while some training
opportunities exist for aspiring wildlife and zoological
veterinarians, such opportunities are not available each year,
pay low salaries or stipends, if any, and are highly
competitive.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to create new funded positions for wildlife and
zoological veterinarians;
(2) to limit the amount of educational debt for veterinary
medicine students while providing incentives to study and
practice wildlife or zoological veterinary medicine;
(3) to help schools and colleges of veterinary medicine
develop or improve pilot curricula specializing in wildlife and
zoological veterinary medicine; and
(4) to expand the number of training programs in wildlife
or zoological veterinary medicine for veterinary students.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Accredited school or college of veterinary medicine.--
The term ``accredited school or college of veterinary
medicine'' means an institution of higher education (as defined
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001)) that provides an educational program for which the
institution awards a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine.
(2) Doctoral degree in veterinary medicine.--The term
``doctoral degree in veterinary medicine'' means a doctor of
veterinary medicine or veterinary medical doctor from an
accredited school or college of veterinary medicine.
(3) Graduate degree in veterinary medicine.--The term
``graduate degree in veterinary medicine'' means a master's
degree or Ph.D. in veterinary medicine or wildlife health
management from an accredited school or college of veterinary
medicine or a public or nonprofit department or school
described in paragraph (8)(E).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(5) State or territory.--The term ``State or Territory''
means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United
States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, and each federally recognized Indian tribe.
(6) Veterinary medicine.--The term ``veterinary medicine''
means all branches of, and specialties included within, the
practice of veterinary medicine, including--
(A) the diagnosis, treatment, correction, change,
alleviation, prevention, management of, or research on
animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect,
injury, or other physical, dental, or mental
conditions; and
(B) the management of ecosystems on which wildlife
and zoological populations depend.
(7) Wildlife.--The term ``wildlife'' means any member of
the animal kingdom and includes mammals, fish, birds,
amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, or arthropods. Such term does
not include plant or plant matter or any other member of
another kingdom.
(8) Wildlife or veterinary institution.--The term
``wildlife or veterinary institution'' means--
(A) any agency or department of a State or
Territory or of the Federal Government that employs
wildlife or zoological veterinarians, including a
wildlife conservation or natural resource management
agency;
(B) a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization;
(C) an accredited zoo or aquarium receiving peer-
reviewed accreditation from a commissioned organization
that heeds rigorous publicly available standards,
utilizes notable experts in the field to conduct
comprehensive inspection and review, and provides
opportunity for public input;
(D) an accredited school or college of veterinary
medicine;
(E) a public or nonprofit department of comparative
medicine, department of veterinary science, department
of the environment and natural resources, school of
public health, or school of medicine that is accredited
by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or
association recognized by the Secretary of Education;
(F) a State or Territory, national, allied, or
regional veterinary organization or specialty board
recognized by the American Veterinary Medical
Association; or
(G) a university research foundation or veterinary
medical foundation.
(9) Wildlife or zoological veterinarian.--The term
``wildlife or zoological veterinarian'' means an individual who
has received a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine from an
accredited school or college of veterinary medicine and
practices veterinary medicine as applied to wildlife
populations--
(A) in their natural habitat; or
(B) in captivity in conservation centers including
zoos, aquariums, wildlife refuges, and breeding
reserves.
SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITY AND COOPERATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES.
The Secretary of the Interior shall carry out this Act. In carrying
out this Act, the Secretary shall cooperate with the heads of such
other departments and agencies of the Federal Government as the
Secretary determines necessary.
TITLE I--WILDLIFE AND ZOOLOGICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE WORKFORCE
EXPANSION
SEC. 101. GRANTS TO CREATE POSITIONS FOR WILDLIFE AND ZOOLOGICAL
VETERINARIANS.
(a) In General.--To create additional clinical and research
positions for wildlife and zoological veterinarians, the Secretary may
award grants to wildlife or veterinary institutions that submit to the
Secretary a proposal designed to create such positions. A proposal--
(1) shall be submitted at such time, and in such form and
manner, as the Secretary may require; and
(2) shall contain such information as the Secretary may
require, including a description of--
(A) each such position;
(B) the need of the wildlife or veterinary
institution for each such position;
(C) how each such position will advance the
conservation and management of wildlife or zoological
populations; and
(D) how the wildlife or veterinary institution will
use funds awarded under a grant.
(b) Award.--The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure
that, under this section, proposals are rigorously reviewed and grants
are competitively awarded based on such considerations as the Secretary
may determine necessary. Such considerations shall include--
(1) the ability of a wildlife or veterinary institution to
describe and justify the need for each position in its proposal
under subsection (a)(2); and
(2) the ability of the wildlife or veterinary institution
to create such positions.
(c) Preference.--In awarding a grant under this section, the
Secretary shall give preference to wildlife or veterinary institutions
that will create positions in areas of need, including--
(1) wildlife disease research;
(2) disease surveillance;
(3) wildlife disease training;
(4) ecology and wildlife population management; and
(5) conservation and management of the health of
endangered, threatened, and sensitive species.
(d) Amount of Grant.--The amount of a grant made to a wildlife or
veterinary institution under this section shall be determined by the
Secretary, taking into account such factors as the Secretary may
consider appropriate, including--
(1) the contents of the proposal submitted by the wildlife
or veterinary institution under subsection (a); and
(2) the number of grants available to all wildlife or
veterinary institutions.
(e) Use of Funds.--Amounts received under a grant under this
section shall only be used by a wildlife or veterinary institution for
purposes determined by the Secretary to be appropriate to create and
support positions created under the proposal submitted by the wildlife
or veterinary institution under subsection (a), including the payment
of--
(1) salaries for such positions; and
(2) costs associated with the acquisition of material and
equipment necessary for the creation of the additional
positions.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2017 through 2021. Amounts appropriated under this subsection are
authorized to remain available until expended.
SEC. 102. LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR VETERINARY STUDENTS AND
VETERINARIANS SPECIALIZING IN WILDLIFE AND ZOOLOGICAL
POPULATIONS.
(a) In General.--To expand the workforce of wildlife and zoological
veterinarians, the Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as
the ``Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Workforce Loan Repayment
Program'' to enter into agreements with eligible individuals to make
payments on their behalf for repayment of their educational loans.
(b) Eligible Individual.--For purposes of this section, an
individual shall be treated as an eligible individual if the
individual--
(1) is a United States citizen, national, or lawful
permanent resident;
(2) either--
(A) has received, not before the date that is 10
years prior to the date on which the individual submits
an application under paragraph (3)--
(i) a doctoral degree in veterinary
medicine; or
(ii) a graduate degree in veterinary
medicine, providing that the individual
received such degree after receiving a doctoral
degree in veterinary medicine,
that has been approved by the Secretary for purposes of
this section; or
(B) is enrolled in a full-time or part-time program
that--
(i) leads to--
(I) a doctoral degree in veterinary
medicine; or
(II) a graduate degree in
veterinary medicine, providing that the
individual has received a doctoral
degree in veterinary medicine; and
(ii) has been approved by the Secretary for
purposes of this section; and
(3) has prepared and submitted to the Secretary an
application at such time and in such form and manner as is
specified by the Secretary.
(c) Agreement.--
(1) In general.--No payment shall be made on behalf of an
eligible individual under the Wildlife and Zoological
Veterinary Workforce Loan Repayment Program unless the eligible
individual has entered into an agreement with the Secretary
under this subsection.
(2) Contents.--An agreement under this subsection shall
contain--
(A) an agreement by the Secretary to make payments
under subsection (e); and
(B) an agreement by the eligible individual--
(i) to serve for a period of no fewer than
4 consecutive years at a wildlife or veterinary
institution as--
(I) a full-time wildlife or
zoological veterinarian; or
(II) with the approval of the
Secretary, a part-time wildlife or
zoological veterinarian, if no full-
time positions are available; and
(ii) to complete the service in clause (i)
not later than 10 years after the later of the
date on which the eligible individual--
(I) receives a doctoral or graduate
degree in veterinary medicine under
subsection (b)(2); and
(II) enters into the agreement
under subsection (a).
(d) Preference.--In making payments under this section, the
Secretary shall give preference to an eligible individual who--
(1) holds or is pursuing a doctoral or graduate degree in
veterinary medicine with a specialty in wildlife or zoological
veterinary medicine; or
(2) is currently practicing wildlife or zoological
veterinary medicine.
(e) Payments.--
(1) In general.--Payments on behalf of an eligible
individual under this section shall include payment of the
principal and interest on the government loans of the eligible
individual, to the extent that the loans cover such expenses as
are determined by the Secretary to be associated with obtaining
a doctoral or graduate degree in veterinary medicine under
subsection (b)(2), including--
(A) tuition expenses;
(B) reasonable living expenses; and
(C) all other reasonable educational expenses
incurred by the grantee, including fees, laboratory
expenses, and expenses for books and equipment.
(2) Amount.--
(A) In general.--Subject to the limitations in
subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall develop
regulations to determine the amounts of payments for
each eligible individual under this section,
considering factors including--
(i) the degree held or pursued by the
eligible individual;
(ii) the training programs in which the
eligible individual has participated;
(iii) the total loan balance paid by the
eligible individual;
(iv) the extent to which such determination
affects the ability of the Secretary to
maximize the number of agreements that can be
provided under this section from the amounts
appropriated for such agreements; and
(v) the extent to which such determination
provides an incentive to serve as a wildlife or
zoological veterinarian.
(B) Limitations.--Payments on behalf of an eligible
individual under this section shall not exceed, for
each year of service under subsection (c)(2)(B)(i)--
(i) $35,000 in aggregate; or
(ii) if the total loans of the eligible
individual are less than $140,000, an amount
that does not exceed an amount that is two-
thirds of the eligible loan balance.
(3) Payment schedule.--The Secretary may enter into an
agreement with the holder of any loan for which payments are
made to establish a schedule for making payments under this
subsection.
(f) Breach of Agreement.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), in the
case of any agreement entered into under subsection (a), an
eligible individual shall be liable to the Federal Government
for an amount, as determined by the Secretary, not to exceed
the total amount of any payments made by the Secretary on
behalf of the eligible individual under this section, and for
interest on such amount at the maximum legal prevailing rate,
as determined by the Treasurer of the United States, if the
eligible individual fails to meet a term of the agreement in
subsection (c)(2)(B).
(2) Death.--Any obligation of an eligible individual under
the Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Workforce Loan Repayment
Program for service or payment of damages shall be canceled
upon the death of the eligible individual.
(3) Waiver or suspension of liability.--The Secretary shall
provide for the partial or total waiver or suspension of
liability under paragraph (1), or of an obligation under
subsection (c)(2), if--
(A) the eligible individual is called to active
duty in the Armed Forces of the United States;
(B) compliance by the eligible individual with the
agreement is impossible or would cause extreme hardship
to the eligible individual; or
(C) enforcement of the agreement with respect to
the eligible individual would be unconscionable.
(4) Date certain for recovery.--Any amount that the Federal
Government is entitled to recover under paragraph (1) shall be
paid to the United States not later than 3 years after the date
on which the United States becomes so entitled.
(5) Availability.--Amounts recovered under paragraph (1)
shall be available to the Secretary for making payments under
this section and shall remain available for such purpose until
expended.
(6) Regulations.--Prior to implementation of the Wildlife
and Zoological Veterinary Workforce Loan Repayment Program, the
Secretary shall establish, by regulation, procedures for
determining the amount of the repayment required under
paragraph (1).
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2017 through 2021. Amounts appropriated under this subsection are
authorized to remain available until expended.
SEC. 103. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR VETERINARY STUDENTS SPECIALIZING IN
WILDLIFE AND ZOOLOGICAL POPULATIONS.
(a) In General.--To expand the workforce of wildlife and zoological
veterinarians, the Secretary shall establish and carry out a program,
to be known as the ``Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Workforce
Scholarship Program'', under which the Secretary shall enter into
agreements with eligible students to award such eligible students
scholarships for serving as wildlife or zoological veterinarians at
wildlife or veterinary institutions upon graduation from an accredited
school or college of veterinary medicine.
(b) Eligible Student.--For purposes of this section, an individual
shall be treated as an eligible student if the individual--
(1) is a United States citizen, national, or a lawful
permanent resident;
(2) is enrolled full-time, or has been accepted for full-
time enrollment, at an accredited school or college of
veterinary medicine;
(3) enrolls or plans to enroll, at the accredited school or
college of veterinary medicine in paragraph (2), in a course of
study or program that specializes or offers courses in wildlife
and zoological veterinary medicine, or any other course of
study or program that has been approved by the Secretary for
the purposes of this section; and
(4) has submitted to the Secretary an application, and a
written contract under subsection (d), at such time and in such
form and manner as is specified by the Secretary.
(c) Award.--
(1) In general.--No scholarship shall be awarded to an
eligible student under the Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary
Workforce Scholarship Program until the Secretary has accepted
the application and written contract submitted by the eligible
student under subsection (b)(4).
(2) Notice.--The Secretary shall provide prompt written
notice to an individual upon the acceptance by the Secretary,
under paragraph (1), of a written contract.
(d) Written Contract.--A written contract between the Secretary and
an eligible student under this subsection shall contain--
(1) an agreement by the Secretary to provide the eligible
student with a scholarship for each year of the course of study
or program described in subsection (b)(3), for a period of no
more than 4 years;
(2) an agreement by the eligible student to--
(A) accept the scholarship;
(B) maintain enrollment in the approved course of
study or program described in subsection (b)(3) until
the individual completes the course of study or
program;
(C) maintain, over the course of the course of
study or program described in subsection (b)(3), such
level of academic standing as is determined by the
accredited school or college of veterinary medicine,
under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, to be
acceptable;
(D) commence service at a wildlife or veterinary
institution no later than 4 years after the date the
eligible student graduates from the accredited school
or college of veterinary medicine; and
(E) serve at the wildlife or veterinary institution
in subparagraph (D) for a period of no fewer than 4
consecutive years as--
(i) a full-time wildlife or zoological
veterinarian; or
(ii) with the approval of the Secretary, a
part-time wildlife or zoological veterinarian,
if no full-time positions are available;
(3) a provision that any financial obligation of the United
States arising out of a contract entered into under this
section and any obligation of the individual which is
conditioned thereon, is contingent upon funds being
appropriated for scholarships under this section;
(4) a statement of the damages to which the United States
shall be entitled, under subsection (i), for a breach of
contract; and
(5) such other statements of the rights and liabilities of
the Secretary and of the individual as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this title.
(e) Amount of Scholarship.--With respect to an eligible student:
(1) In general.--Subject to the limitation in paragraph
(2), in determining the amount of a scholarship, the Secretary
shall consider factors including--
(A) the degree that the eligible student is
pursuing or plans to pursue;
(B) educational costs;
(C) the financial need of the eligible student;
(D) the extent to which such determination affects
the ability of the Secretary to maximize the number of
scholarships that can be provided under this section
from the amounts appropriated for such scholarships;
and
(E) the extent to which such determination provides
an incentive to serve as a wildlife or zoological
veterinarian.
(2) Limitation.--The amount of a scholarship shall not
exceed $35,000 for any school year.
(f) Use of Funds.--Amounts received under a scholarship under this
section shall be used to cover such expenses, with respect to an
eligible student, as are determined by the Secretary to be appropriate,
including--
(1) tuition expenses;
(2) reasonable living expenses; and
(3) all other reasonable educational expenses incurred by
the eligible student, including fees, laboratory expenses, and
expenses for books and equipment.
(g) Payments to Educational Institution.--Under the Wildlife and
Zoological Veterinary Workforce Scholarship Program, the Secretary may
contract with the accredited school or college of veterinary medicine
in which an eligible student is enrolled or has been accepted for
enrollment to make payments for tuition, reasonable living expenses,
and other reasonable educational expenses under subsection (f).
(h) Breach of Contract.--
(1) Liability.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), an
eligible student who has entered into a written contract with
the Secretary under this section shall be liable to the United
States for the following amounts:
(A) Failure to complete course of study or
program.--The eligible student shall be liable for the
total amount that has been paid to the eligible student
under this section, and for interest on such amount at
the maximum legal prevailing rate, as determined by the
Treasurer of the United States, if, under the course of
study or program under subsection (b)(2), the eligible
student--
(i) fails to maintain an acceptable level
of academic standing under subsection
(d)(2)(C);
(ii) is dismissed from the accredited
school or college of veterinary medicine for
disciplinary reasons; or
(iii) voluntarily ceases to participate in
the course of study or program before
completion of the course of study or program.
(B) Failure to complete service obligation.--The
eligible student shall be liable for an amount, as
determined by the Secretary, not to exceed the total
amount that has been awarded to the eligible student
under this section, and for interest on such amount at
the maximum legal prevailing rate, as determined by the
Treasurer of the United States, if the eligible student
fails to begin or complete the service obligation under
subsection (d)(2)(D).
(2) Death.--Any obligation of an eligible student under the
Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Workforce Scholarship
Program for service or payment of damages shall be canceled
upon the death of the eligible student.
(3) Waiver or suspension of liability.--The Secretary shall
provide for the partial or total waiver or suspension of
liability under paragraph (1), or of an obligation under
subsection (d)(2), if--
(A) the eligible student is called to active duty
in the Armed Forces of the United States;
(B) compliance by the eligible student with the
written contract is impossible or would cause extreme
hardship to the eligible student; or
(C) enforcement of the written contract with
respect to the eligible student would be
unconscionable.
(4) Date certain for recovery.--Any amount that the Federal
Government is entitled to recover under paragraph (1) shall be
paid to the United States not later than 3 years after the date
the United States becomes so entitled.
(5) Availability.--Amounts recovered under paragraph (1)
shall be available to the Secretary for making loan repayments
under this section and shall remain available for such purpose
until expended.
(6) Regulations.--Prior to implementation of the Wildlife
and Zoological Veterinary Workforce Scholarship Program, the
Secretary shall establish, by regulation, procedures for
determining the amount of the repayment required under
paragraph (1).
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2017 through 2021. Amounts appropriated under this subsection are
authorized to remain available until expended.
TITLE II--WILDLIFE AND ZOOLOGICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE EDUCATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 201. GRANTS TO ACCREDITED SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES OF VETERINARY
MEDICINE FOR CURRICULA IN WILDLIFE AND ZOOLOGICAL
VETERINARY MEDICINE.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to
award grants to accredited schools and colleges of veterinary medicine
to develop or improve new or existing curricula that specialize in
wildlife or zoological veterinary medicine, to be available to
veterinary students in the final years of a program for which the
accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine award a doctoral
degree in veterinary medicine.
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, an
accredited school or college of veterinary medicine shall submit to the
Secretary a proposal--
(1) at such time and in such form and manner as the
Secretary may require; and
(2) containing such information as the Secretary may
require, including a description of--
(A) the proposed curriculum in wildlife or
zoological veterinary medicine under subsection (a);
and
(B) how the accredited school or college of
veterinary medicine will use funds provided under the
grant.
(c) Award.--The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure that
proposals are rigorously reviewed and that grants are competitively
awarded.
(d) Amount.--The Secretary shall determine the amount of a grant
awarded to an accredited school or college of veterinary medicine under
this section, taking into account such factors as the Secretary
considers appropriate, including--
(1) the contents of the proposal submitted by the eligible
accredited school or college of veterinary medicine under
subsection (b); and
(2) the number of grants available to all accredited
schools or colleges of veterinary medicine.
(e) Use of Grant Funds.--Amounts received under a grant under this
section shall be used to pay expenses related to the curriculum
described in subsection (b)(2)(A) that are determined by the Secretary
to be appropriate, including the expense of--
(1) developing the curriculum;
(2) paying for the costs associated with the development of
the curriculum, including faculty salaries and the costs of
acquisition of material and equipment; and
(3) providing the curriculum.
(f) Reports.--
(1) Grantees.--At the end of each calendar year, each
school that has received a grant under this section for such
year shall submit to the Secretary a report, in such form and
manner and containing such information as the Secretary may
require, on the effectiveness of the curriculum developed by
the school.
(2) Secretary.--Not later than 6 months after completion of
the pilot program established under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall evaluate the curriculum developed by each
school that has received a grant under this section and submit
to Congress a report on the pilot program--
(A) in such form and manner as Congress may
require; and
(B) containing such information as Congress may
require, including--
(i) the names of the accredited schools and
colleges of veterinary medicine that received a
grant under this section;
(ii) the number of students enrolled in
each curriculum developed with grant funds;
(iii) a description of each curriculum
developed with grant funds;
(iv) an assessment of the effectiveness of
the pilot program; and
(v) the recommendations of the Secretary
regarding the extension or expansion of the
pilot program.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2017 through 2021. Amounts appropriated under this subsection are
authorized to remain available until expended.
SEC. 202. GRANTS TO DEVELOP TRAINING PROGRAMS IN WILDLIFE AND
ZOOLOGICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award competitive grants to
eligible wildlife or veterinary institutions to establish or expand,
for traineeship candidates, training programs that will enhance the
ability of a trainee to practice as a wildlife or zoological
veterinarian, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior. Such
training programs may include externship, internship, fellowship, or
residency programs.
(b) Eligible Wildlife or Veterinary Institution.--To be eligible
for a grant under this section, a wildlife or veterinary institution
shall submit to the Secretary a proposal designed to create or expand
one or more training programs for traineeship candidates. The
proposal--
(1) shall be submitted at such time and in such form and
manner as the Secretary may require; and
(2) shall contain such information as the Secretary may
require, including a description of--
(A) each training program to be created or
expanded;
(B) the skills to be imparted by each training
program;
(C) how the wildlife or veterinary institution will
use the funds provided under a grant; and
(D) how each training program will help a trainee
advance conservation and management goals for wildlife
or zoological animal populations.
(c) Consideration of Proposals.--
(1) Preference.--In awarding a grant under this section,
the Secretary shall give preference to an eligible wildlife or
veterinary institution offering a training program--
(A) at rotating sites, particularly in the case of
a residency program; and
(B) under which trainees conduct research and teach
veterinary students.
(2) Procedures.--The Secretary shall establish procedures
to ensure that proposals are rigorously reviewed and that
grants are competitively awarded.
(d) Traineeship Candidate.--For purposes of this section, an
individual shall be treated as a traineeship candidate if the
individual--
(1) is a citizen of the United States, a national, or a
lawful permanent resident;
(2) expresses a profound interest in wildlife or zoological
veterinary medicine and a commitment to becoming a wildlife or
zoological veterinarian; and
(3) has submitted to a wildlife or veterinary institution
offering a training program under subsection (a) an application
for the training program containing such information as may be
required by the wildlife or veterinary institution.
(e) Financial Assistance Under Training Program.--Under a training
program, a trainee shall, for the duration of the training program, be
provided with--
(1) a stipend, in an amount based on criteria to be
determined by the wildlife or veterinary institution,
including--
(A) the type and length of the training program;
(B) the responsibilities assigned to the trainee as
part of the training program;
(C) the academic level or degree held by the
trainee; and
(D) the relevant experience of the trainee; and
(2) such other financial assistance as the wildlife or
veterinary institution determines necessary and is approved by
the Secretary.
(f) Approval of Placement Under Training Program.--
(1) In general.--No traineeship candidate shall be placed
in a training program without the approval of the Secretary.
(2) Notice.--A traineeship candidate shall be informed of
placement in a training program upon approval by the Secretary.
(g) Amount of Grant.--The Secretary shall determine the amount of a
grant awarded under this section for a training program, taking into
account such factors as the Secretary considers appropriate,
including--
(1) the type of training that the wildlife or veterinary
institution desires to create or expand;
(2) the contents of the proposal submitted by the wildlife
or veterinary institution under subsection (b); and
(3) the number of grants available to all wildlife or
veterinary institutions.
(h) Use of Grant Funds.--Under this section, amounts received under
a grant shall be applied to such costs as the Secretary considers
appropriate for the planning, development, and operation of the
training program, including the costs associated with--
(1) the development of the curriculum to be used in the
program;
(2) practicum experiences;
(3) the acquisition of new equipment; and
(4) the stipend and other financial assistance provided to
the trainee under subsection (e).
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2017 through 2021. Amounts appropriated under this subsection are
authorized to remain available until expended.
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