Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterinary Expansion and Training for Comprehensive Animal Resources and Education Act or the VET CARE Act.

Sec. 2. Grants for veterinary medicine work-based learning

The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after section 1415B (7 U.S.C. 3151b) the following:

1415C. Grants for veterinary medicine work-based learning

(a) Establishment

The Secretary shall carry out a program to make competitive grants to eligible entities to create, develop, expand, or scale curriculum in a high school that implements a work-based learning program focused on veterinary medicine in a State with a veterinarian shortage situation.

(b) Use of funds

An eligible entity may use a grant under this section to carry out the purpose described in subsection (a) by supporting broader exposure to, and preparation for—

(1)

careers at—

(A)

cooperative extension programs;

(B)

4–H and FFA organizations;

(C)

school districts and career-technical centers;

(D)

community and technical colleges or institutes;

(E)

veterinary clinics and hospitals;

(F)

animal shelters and humane organizations;

(G)

State veterinary medical associations or boards and State animal health offices; and

(H)

workforce development boards;

(2)

careers in—

(A)

diagnostics;

(B)

epidemiology;

(C)

food safety; and

(D)

animal husbandry; and

(3)

such other careers as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(c) Conditions

As a condition on receiving a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary, for each fiscal year that the eligibility entity receives a grant, the following information:

(1)

The number of students enrolled in the program funded by the grant.

(2)

The number of students who graduated from such program.

(3)

The number of students who are truant (as defined by the accrediting body or the State of the eligible entity).

(4)

The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate and extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate of such program.

(5)

The average daily attendance of such program.

(6)

The number and percentage of students entering post-secondary education, separated by those who enter into an educational program in a veterinary medicine-related field and those who do not.

(7)

The number and percentage of students entering the workforce, separated by those who enter the veterinary medicine workforce and those who do not.

(8)

The number and percentage of students who participated in work-based learning involving livestock, equine animals, or other large animals and, to the extent practicable, the number and percentage of such students who subsequently entered postsecondary education, training, or employment in large-animal or food-animal veterinary medicine.

(9)

Any other information the Secretary determines necessary to ensure the adequate evaluation of the grants under this section.

(d) Priority

In making grants under this section, the Secretary—

(1)

may prioritize such grants based on—

(A)

documented veterinary shortage needs in rural, urban, and suburban settings;

(B)

rural and food animal workforce gaps; and

(C)

state veterinary workforce data; and

(2)

shall prioritize work-based learning programs that—

(A)

provide substantial experience involving livestock, equine animals, or other large animals; and

(B)

establish a pathway for participating students to pursue postsecondary education, training, and long-term employment in large-animal or food-animal veterinary medicine.

(e) Definition

In this section:

(1) Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means—

(A)

an accredited veterinary medicine college or university;

(B)

a cooperative extension program;

(C)

a 4–H or FFA organization;

(D)

a school district or career-technical center;

(E)

a community or technical college or institute;

(F)

a veterinary clinic or hospital;

(G)

a State veterinary medical association or board or State animal health office;

(H)

a workforce development board; and

(I)

a Tribal organization.

(2) High school

The term high school has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

(3) State

The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States.

(4) Veterinarian shortage situation

The term veterinarian shortage situation means a veterinarian shortage situation as determined by the Secretary under section 1415A.

(f) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.