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Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act

10/3/2025, 9:06 PM

Summary of Bill S 620

Bill 119 s 620, also known as the "Indian Tribes Rabies Prevention Act," aims to provide public health veterinary services to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations for the prevention of rabies. The bill recognizes the importance of preventing the spread of rabies within Tribal communities and seeks to address this issue by offering resources and support for vaccination programs and other preventative measures.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations for the purpose of implementing rabies prevention programs. These programs may include the vaccination of domestic animals, public education campaigns, and the establishment of surveillance systems to monitor and control the spread of rabies.

In addition to providing funding for rabies prevention efforts, the bill also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collaborate with Tribal governments and organizations to develop and implement comprehensive strategies for addressing rabies within Tribal communities. This collaborative approach is intended to ensure that the unique needs and challenges of Tribal communities are taken into account when designing and implementing rabies prevention programs. Overall, Bill 119 s 620 represents a proactive and collaborative effort to address the public health threat posed by rabies within Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. By providing resources and support for vaccination programs and other preventative measures, the bill aims to protect the health and well-being of Tribal communities and prevent the spread of rabies within these populations.

Congressional Summary of S 620

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.

Current Status of Bill S 620

Bill S 620 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since February 18, 2025. Bill S 620 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the Senate on February 18, 2025.  Bill S 620's most recent activity was Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 174. as of September 29, 2025

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 620

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
0
Republican Sponsors
1
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
3
Democrat Cosponsors
3
Republican Cosponsors
0
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 620

Primary Policy Focus

Native Americans

Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 620

A bill to provide public health veterinary services to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations for rabies prevention, and for other purposes.
A bill to provide public health veterinary services to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations for rabies prevention, and for other purposes.

Comments

Amani Bowers profile image

Amani Bowers

421

8 months ago

I'm not too sure about this one, seems like it could cause some issues for folks like me in rural areas. Gonna have to keep an eye on it.