Election 2008: AVMA weighs critical election topics

The American Veterinary Medical Association urged the candidate to pledge leadership on these key issues:

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The shortage of veterinarians

-- especially in critical rural areas, where food animals are typically raised and inspected. The new president will need to champion measures for growing the number of veterinarians and recruiting more to serve in rural areas.

-Crucial food-safety programs and resources, such as the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD), which recently closed to a continued lack of funding. The new president must take a stance to preserve such resources.

- Appointment of DVMs to key positions, especially within such agencies as the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS).