Dr Ashley Morgan, Assistant Director, AVMA Government Relations Division, continues to work with Congress on passage of the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act (S. 1171/H.R. 1528). This legislation would allow practitioners to carry controlled substances outside of their DEA registered premises. She reports that, as Congress closes out 2013, AVMA has continued to see support for the legislation: 142 cosponsors in the House (with 4 more to be added when session resumes) and 12 cosponsors in the Senate. Just recently, the Senate came very close to passing S. 1171 by unanimous consent. Unfortunately Senator Tom Udall (NM) held up the process on an unrelated issue. AVMA remains encouraged that the other 99 senators are willing to pass the bill.
There is strong interest in both the House and Senate to include the legislative language in the pending Farm Bill. AVMA will continue to seek cosponsors and push for passage using all legislative means at their disposal. You can help to push this forward as well. AVMA asks that you please respond to alerts in the coming weeks asking constituents to contact their Congressional members.