AAVMC worked with several other organizations to gather signatures on a letter from members of Congress to the FDA and the USDA. The effort was led by the American Soybean Association, and ultimately included two thirds of the members of the Energy and Commerce Committee. A panel of experts convened by the AAVMC and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) spent 18 months studying the issue and called for “a remodeling of the federal regulatory landscape” if the technology is going to help address the food security and sustainability needs of a global population expected to reach 10 billion people by 2050. The “AAVMC/APLU Gene Editing in Agriculture Task Force Report” suggests current regulatory protocols have not kept up with technological change and must be modernized in order for society to realize the many benefits of new scientific capabilities.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) is one of the key issues that both AAVMC and AVMA focus on. The U.S. Department of Education recently announced some key changes and improvements to the program that will impact thousands of borrowers. Changes clear the way for 22,000 borrowers (including veterinarians and other healthcare providers) to become immediately eligible for $1.74 billion in loan forgiveness. Some 27,000 other borrowers could qualify for an additional $2.82 billion with proper documentation of qualifying employment. In other PSLF news, the American Federation of Teachers reached a landmark settlement in a PSLF lawsuit filed against the government. Click here to a story in the Vet-Med Educator on the PSLF changes. Click here to see a fact sheet on the overhaul of the program.

This is likely the final extension on forbearance from the Department of Education. The Department of Education is reported to be considering strategies to avoid a massive surge in delinquencies once the January 31, 2022 deadline is reached. They include implementing a 90-day grace period after the first payment is due when the pause ends, outreach by the Department to certain “at risk” groups of borrowers, increased call center hours for all loan services, and easing enrollment requirements for income-based repayment plans.

During the last week of September and the first week of October, Congress essentially punted on two critical deadlines. First, they passed a continuing resolution that keeps the government open and funded at current levels through December 3. Next, they approved legislation lifting the debt ceiling by $480 billion, which would support federal spending through the same date, December 3. This obviously sets up another deadline that Congress will have to address before they adjourn for this year.

The AAVMC has signed onto a legal brief with the AVMA and the New York State Veterinary Medical Society contesting a lawsuit filed by the Non-Human Rights Project, Inc. that seeks to accord “bodily liberty” to an elephant named Happy who lives at the Bronx Zoo. The Amici curiae brief cites extensive case law that outlines a human-animal-legal relationship and animal welfare based upon human ownership of agricultural and companion animals. The suit filed by the Non-Human Rights Project, Inc. essentially seeks to bestow “personhood” on animals. The suit will now be heard by the New York State Court of Appeals. Click here to see the brief.

On Monday, Sept. 30, AAVMC had a productive meeting with several new staffers at USDA/NIFA who will be managing two of our critical programs. These are the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP). They informed us about some changes to the programs, including changes to the Guidance Manual for the VMLRP. Click here to see the highlights of the major changes to the manual.