The record

LegislationLegislation· Dec 2025
S 620 Passed Senate — in House

Sponsored by Lisa Murkowski (R)

Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act

Expands federal veterinary services in tribal communities to prevent diseases that spread between animals and humans.

Tradeoff

Authorizes funding for veterinary public health services and disease surveillance in Indian Health Service areas. Requires the federal health department to report to Congress on how funds are used and what diseases are monitored.

What's in it

See official bill text

Requires $15 million in over 2025-2030 and $47 million over 2025-2035 to fund veterinary services and zoonotic disease surveillance.

This bill authorizes federal spending to hire 18 veterinarians across 12 Indian Health Service regions and conduct rabies vaccine studies, aiming to prevent animal-to-human disease transmission in underserved tribal communities.

S. 620, Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act · Aug 2025

Passed the Senate by on December 11, 2025 — sitting in the House.

  1. Senate

    Introduced

    (Feb 18, 2025)

  2. Senate

    Committee on Indian Affairs(Feb 18, 2025)

  3. Senate

    The Committee on Indian Affairs voted to send it to the floor

    Reported(Mar 5, 2025)

    Committee report S. Rept. 119-69.

  4. Senate

    Passage of the bill

    Passed by (Dec 11, 2025)

    No individual votes were recorded.

  5. House

    Received from the Senate

    Received(Dec 15, 2025)