many bright young high school students of this region, who desire to study veterinary medicine, cannot do so because they do not have the financial security necessary for a minimum of six years of education in veterinary medicine. The loan provision of these bills would give this disadvantaged group a promise of a better life and a chance to be of signal service to the region and the nation. Here at Tuskegee Institute the growing interrelationship of interprofessional activities between veterinarians, physicians, dentists, and basic biologists in a team approach to basic understandings of life processes leads us more and more to the realization that the "one medicine" described by Sir William Osler is to be a reality in our time. If we are to meet the many expanding needs for competent veterinary personnel and services, it is imperative that educational facilities for training these veterinarians be increased. This cannot be done without the assistance that these proposed bills will provide. Mr. ANDREWS. A statement by American Association of Equine Practitioners. (The statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT on Behalf of THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF EQUINE PRACTITIONERS Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: I am Wayne O. Kester, Executive Secretary and Treasurer of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. I am a past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a retired Chief for Veterinary Services of the U.S. Air Force. The equine industry in this country is one of the most fascinating social and economic phenomena of our time. Fifty years ago the industry was on its deathbed. Today, propelled by an era of prosperity that followed World War II, the industry has flourished and continues to grow. No exact figures are available on its size, in part, because the U.S. Department of Agriculture excluded the horse from its farm census since 1959. However, various sources estimate that there are 6 to 7 million horses today in the United States. This includes ponies, light horses, and draft horses. The equine industry has made a firm impact on the economy and youth activities of our nation. According to survey conducted in 1965 by the Thoroughbred Racing Commission of California in cooperation with California Polytechnic University, the total value of the equine population in America and the industries it supports exceeds $2 billion. The Morris Animal Foundation has estimated the total equine feed bill at $500 million annually. Racing capital investment has been estimated by the Foundation at $1 billion and the annual tax contributions of the industry at another $1 billion. From 1959 to 1964, 4-H equine projects had a threefold increase. Last year there were more equine 4-H projects than any other type of 4-H livestock endeavor and, this year, one-quarter of a million children are engaged in organized equine projects. One of the major concerns of the equine industry is the problem of equine health. Each year veterinarians have to fight diseases that continually plague the industry (e.g., equine infectious anemia, equine piroplasmosis (a blood disease), the encephalitides (sleeping sicknesses), infertility, and various parisitisms). The two diseases, equine infectious anemia and equine piroplasmosis, impose a health and economic threat of catastrophic magnitude to the total horse industry of the United States. Since 1960, equine infectious anemia has been reported in all but five states. For example, at one race track last year, there were 38 suspected cases, 25 confirmed cases, and 20 deaths. This disease is an obvious threat to a sizable source of tax revenue in those states in which horse racing is conducted. Equine piroplasmosis was first diagnosed in the United States in Dade County, Florida, in 1961. Subsequent diagnoses were confirmed in southern Georgia and Puerto Rico. The clinical signs of this blood disease are similar to those of equine infectious anemia. Southern Florida receives approximately 6,000 Thoroughbreds each winter for training and racing from other parts of the United States. The threat of transporting these diseases to the areas from which the horses come is ever present. In 1912 an estimated 25,000 horses died in Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado due to viral encephalitis, and in 1964 an outbreak of western encephalitis in Illinois horses was one of the most widespread on record. Occurrence of encephalitis in man is sporadic but represents an extreme public health hazard. Besides fowl and wild birds, horses can harbor the causative agents. These agents are transmitted to man by mosquitoes. Veterinarians are the safeguards of the equine industry by maintaining the health of horses, mules, burros, and ponies. Increased leisure time has caused many riding clubs to be started in and around urban areas providing a different form of recreation for many people. Veterinarians are also involved in solving infertility problems in breeding operations; deciding whether or not a horse is capable of racing; operating ranch practices where the horse is used as a valuable animal in various aspects of beef herd management, i.e., herding. culling, and branding. Today, equine animals constitute an important portion of the patient load in all veterinary college clinics. The equine's increase in value, as well as its acceptance as a companion animal, has automatically created a demand for increased knowledge in the problems of therapy and research. The usefulness of radiation and ultrasonie therapy; counter-irritant therapy; surgery in orthopedic therapy; mineral and vitamin supplementation; new medications, vaccines, antibiotics, and many older drugs need to be determined on the basis of sound and substantial scientific evidence. In 1955, $40,000 annually was being spent nationally for equine research. In 1967, it is anticipated that $900,000 will be spent on equine research to continue studies in nutrition, vaccine discovery for control of parasites, function of the digestiv flora, and improved diagnostic techniques for identifying the principal equine diseases. The veterinary profession, realizing its dedication to maintaining the healthy commodity upon which the equine industry flourishes, organized a segment of its population to meet the challenge of the burgeoning equine population. The American Association of Equine Practitioners has grown from 47 members in 1955 to 1,070 in 1965. It includes veterinarians engaged in equine practices of many types, and its growth is indicative of the need for more veterinarians trained in this specialty for practice and research. Allied to this need, additional colleges of veterinary medicine need to be constructed; present colleges need expansion of existing facilities; and adequate student loans need to be provided to cope with the increasing shortage of veterinarians in the United States. If the present and predicted shortages of veterinarians are not alleviated, all phases of the animal industry of this nation will be in jeopardy. I wish to thank the Chairman and Members of this Subcommittee for giving me the opportunity to appear before you. May I urge your full cooperation toward the enactment of the "Veterinary Medical Education Facilities Construction Act of 1965". Mr. ANDREWS. A letter from Dean C. A. Brandly, University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, dated April 13, 1966. (The letter referred to follows:) UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, OFFICE OF THE DEAN, Urbana, Ill., April 13, 1966. Congressman JOHN JARMAN, Chairman, Subcommittee on Public Health and Welfare, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.: I write to provide you facts, some of which you may not be aware of. There is great urgency, on behalf of the welfare of all living beings, that federal support be provided for veterinary medical educational facilities. This profession has first and final accountability for maximal health of a vast multitude of animal species. If veterinary medicine is to meet this basic charge, it cannot be denied the material support that will permit it to properly educate the greatly increased numbers of veterinarians required to meet the burgeoning demands on it. Obviously, the nation's 18 colleges of veterinary medicine cannot carry out their heavy obligations to the general welfare without substantial federal matching support to the states for new educational facilities. Doubling of present veterinary medical enrollments during the decade ahead is a minimal requirement. We have been informed that hearings on bill H.R. 490 sponsored by Congressman Leggett together with fourteen companion bills, will be held on April 20. It is difficult for my fellow educators and me to believe that veterinary medicine was, by design, left out of the group of health professions (medicine, osteopathy, public health, nursing optometry, podiatry) covered by the 1963 Health Professions Educational Facilities and Student Loans Act, and, of subsequent supplementary legislation. All who have even an elementary awareness of the facts of today's existence must recognize that man cannot enjoy maximal health and well-being if the myriad of other useful members of the animal kingdom upon which he must rely are disease-ridden. Man's age old dependence on animals for food, fiber, medicinal products, economic welfare, recreation and, to an increasing degree, mental well-being are no less today than ever before. It is impossible in this statement to cite the virtually limitless benefits which we human beings derive from use of and contact with the many indispensable species of animals. In times of armed conflict, the veterinary services of our Armed Forces are responsible for inspection for wholesomeness of all foods not only at procurement but at issue as well for sanitation of food storage facilities, kitchens and messes. The military veterinary services are accountable for the health of sentry dogs, which are serving an ever greater role. They were responsible for the first astronauts-mice, monkeys, dogs, chimps. The zoonotic diseases, e.g., tuberculosis, plague, brucellosis, trichinosis, some forms of malaria and some 100 others, require the unique knowledge and competence of the veterinarian if they are to be identified and dealt with most effectively, either during military operation or in normal civilian life. Veterinary medicine has demonstrated its capability for effective action in the large spectrum of human health endeavor and welfare. It has established its key role toward improving the health and well being of the whole animal kingdom, including man. It is, therefore, only fair to ask whether this ancient and noble profession which is bringing new and invaluable knowledge and benefits to us and our animals can further be denied support for educating the greatly increased numbers of veterinarians which our country and the world are calling for. The legislation proposed by H.R. 490 and its counterparts obviously is "remedial," not new in nature and will correct an inequity of opportunity for one of the major health professions. Such un-American discrimination must not continue to prevail. C. A. BRANDLY, Dean. Mr. ANDREWs. A statement by Dr. Mark W. Allam, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. (The statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT OF DR. MARK W. ALLAM, DEAN, THE SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, PHILADELPHIA, PA. The evolution of veterinary medical education closely parallels that of human medicine. In the mid nineteenth century, there was the stage of the private "diploma mill". We have witnessed, too, the era in which the primary aim of education was merely to train students to practice veterinary medicine. During our growth as a profession, we have profited considerably from lessons learned earlier in medical education; we are now at the point where veterinary medical education can make its own contributions to the whole of medical science. Of all the medical sciences none has more diverse obligations than veterinary medicine. These range from a direct concern for the general welfare of animals to participation in the program of space medicine and include treatment and control of disease in species ranging from wild animals to the commonly employed laboratory animal. The agricultural economy and nutritive plane of this nation and the world depend in a large measure upon research, service and educational activities of the veterinary profession. Science has not altered man's dependence upon the food animal. The geography of hunger in a rapidly expanding world population is still largely determined by the numbers, health and efficiency of domestic animals. The changing pattern of agriculture with concentration of larger numbers of farm animals in smaller areas poses a serious challenge to the veterinarian, especially in the fields of preventive medicine and control of the zoonoses. The large number of pet animals in urbane areas poses similar problems. If the veterinary medical profession is to meet its responsibilities for the future, then more young men and women must have the opportunity to study veterinary medicine. This can only be accomplished by greatly expanding present educational facilities, the creation of new schools and the opportunity to provide scholarship aid to the worthy, needy veterinary student. Mr. ANDREWS. And, Mr. Chairman, in conclusion let me again thank you for giving us this hearing. There is a tremendous amount of interest in this bill. No question but that there is a shortage of veterinarians and that shortage will grow. It looks like the veterinarians have been on the bottom of the totem pole in the field of Federal aid to education. A week seldom passes when I don't get a letter from some Member of Congress asking that I try to help get some student into a veterinary school at Auburn and the dean of our veterinary school, Dr. Green, is here today and will testify. My bill simply provides-and these other bills introduced by our colleagues, simply provide that there will be some Federal assistance to veterinary schools, and the bills make possible the construction of new veterinary schools; 66% percent is the greatest amount of Federal grant possible. In many cases where it is construction of additional facilities at existing schools the grant is 50 percent. There is a provision made for loans to veterinary students not to exceed $2,000 a year to be repayable over a period of 10 years. There is a terrific demand for veterinarians in the country today and that shortage will continue almost to the point of no return in the 1980's. I certainly hope that this committee will look into these bills carefully and come up with some kind of a bill that will help a great profession, a profession that up until this time has received very, very little consideration on the part of the Federal Government. That is my statement, Mr. Chairman. Mr. JARMAN. Mr. Andrews, we appreciate your comprehensive statement on this subject. The additional statements to which you refer will be accepted for the record unless there is objection. Mr. JARMAN. Mr. Mackay? Mr. MACKAY. As a native of Alabama and a resident of Georgia. I am very proud to see that Alabama and Georgia are leading the Nation in this issue. Because of my high regards for you, I am pleased to cosponsor this bill that you have introduced and hope that we can get action in this Congress because I represent the only allurban district in the Southeast. This is not a rural problem. Mr. ANDREWS. You need meat inspectors. Mr. MACKAY. The provision of veterinary medical training is a national problem. This profession affects every citizen. One of our leaders from my district is here today. The doctor of veterinary medicine is a very important person in the life of every family in my district, and I appreciate your statement. I think you are right and I appreciate your being here. Mr. ANDREWS. Thank you. Mr. SPRINGER. May I say to my distinguished colleague from Alabama that this shows a statement of considerable concern and you certainly have gone into the facts. Dean Brandly talked with me on the telephone and was very sorry he could not be here to present his own statement, as dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Illinois. I am happy that such a distinguished member of the great Committee on Appropriations has seen fit to come here and testify. If we get this bill authorized, will the distinguished gentleman from Alabama help us get the appropriations? Mr. ANDREWS. Well, I will say to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois, you do your part and I will do mine. Mr. SPRINGER. I think the gentleman's words is good and sufficient insofar as I am concerned. Mr. ANDREWS. I might say that our colleague from Rhode Island, Congressman John Fogarty, is very much interested in these bills. I think he has introduced one and will appear here today as a witness. As you know, he is the chairman of the subcommittee that handles funds for these projects. Mr. SPRINGER. I am glad to hear that. I did not realize until about 3 years ago the far-reaching aspects of veterinary medicine. I happen to have one of the larger airbases in the world in my district, Chanute Field at Rantoul. We do have this inspection problem and under Army regulations this requires a doctor of veterinary medicine. Most of these positions require that kind of qualification to fill. So may I say that the armed services are taking a serious view of veterinarians at the present time. This aspect of it is far beyond the mere question of farm animals, and I do have one of the big agricultural areas in my district, some seven counties that have nothing but farms in them. But, for the first time I got a picture of how far reaching the whole question of veterinary medicine is. May I say that the gentleman has made a most lucid presentation of his subject today. Mr. ANDREWS. Thank you, sir. Mr. SPRINGER. Which this committee appreciates. Mr. JARMAN. Mr. Nelsen? Mr. NELSEN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank the gentleman for his testimony and point out that several of the authors of similar bills come from the Midwest Mr. Andrews, from North Dakota; Mr. Fraser and I, and probably several others. The situation that we face in the agricultural areas today is a serious one as far as the supply of veterinarians is concerned. A circumstance that I would like to relate goes back a number of years quite a number of years-in Minnesota, where we found that our young men who wanted to study veterinary medicine were being denied entrance into the various out-of-State veterinary medicine schools. We had none in Minnesota at that time. Several of us in |