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House bill · H.R. 8473 (119th Congress)

Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act

U.S. House of Representatives

Latest action Jun 9, 2026

Sponsor: Nicholas J. Begich III (U.S. Representative, AK at-large, Republican)

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From Congress.gov and official rosters. This record was last updated Aug 1, 2026. About our data

Summary

Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act This bill expands support for public health veterinary services (e.g., disease surveillance or vaccination) in tribal communities to address zoonotic infectious diseases (i.e., diseases that spread between humans and animals). Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Indian Health Service (IHS), to expend funds for public health veterinary services to prevent and control zoonotic disease infection and transmission in IHS areas where the risk for disease occurrence in humans and wildlife is endemic. HHS may assign or deploy veterinary public health officers from the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps to IHS areas. Additionally, HHS must submit a biennial report to Congress on the use of funds, the assignment and deployment of veterinary public health officers from the USPHS Commissioned Corps, data related to the monitoring and disease surveillance of zoonotic diseases, and related services. The bill also includes the IHS as a coordinating agency in the National One Health Framework. (This framework addresses zoonotic diseases and advances public health preparedness in the United States.) The bill requires the Department of Agriculture to conduct a feasibility study on the delivery of oral rabies vaccines to wildlife reservoir species that are connected to the transmission of rabies to tribal members living in Arctic regions of the United States. The study must (1) evaluate the efficacy of the oral rabies vaccines, and (2) make recommendations to improve the delivery of these vaccines.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Assigned to a committee for review.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

House Committee on Natural Resources · U.S. House of Representatives

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Full history

  1. Jun 9, 2026

    Hearing held

    Subcommittee Hearings Held

  2. Jun 9, 2026

    In committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held

    U.S. House

  3. Jun 9, 2026

    Hearing held

    Subcommittee Hearings Held

  4. Jun 9, 2026

    Hearing held

    Subcommittee Hearings Held

  5. Jun 3, 2026

    Referred to committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.

Show full history (7 earlier events)
  1. Jun 3, 2026

    Referred to committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.

  2. Jun 3, 2026

    Referred to committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.

  3. Apr 23, 2026

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    U.S. House of Representatives

  4. Apr 23, 2026

    Introduced

    Introduced in U.S. House

    U.S. House

  5. Apr 23, 2026

    Referred to committee

    Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  6. Apr 23, 2026

    Referred to committee

    Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  7. Apr 23, 2026

    Referred to committee

    Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Read the record