---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 3151b"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "3151b"
heading: "Veterinary services grant program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/3151b"
units:
  - "Chapter 64 — Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching"
  - "Subchapter III — Agricultural Research and Education Grants and Fellowships"
---

# §3151b. Veterinary services grant program

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Qualified entity—** The term “qualified entity” means—
    - (A) a for-profit or nonprofit entity located in the United States that, or an individual who, operates a veterinary clinic providing veterinary services—
      - (i) in a rural area, as defined in [section 1991(a) of this title](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a); and
      - (ii) in a veterinarian shortage situation;
    - (B) a [State](/usc/7/3103.md?p=16), national, allied, or regional veterinary organization or specialty board recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association;
    - (C) a [college](/usc/7/3103.md?p=4-A) or school of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association;
    - (D) a [university](/usc/7/3103.md?p=4-A) research foundation or veterinary medical foundation;
    - (E) a department of veterinary science or department of comparative medicine accredited by the Department of [Education](/usc/7/3103.md?p=20);
    - (F) a [State](/usc/7/3103.md?p=16) agricultural experiment station; or
    - (G) a [State](/usc/7/3103.md?p=16), local, or tribal government agency.
  - (2) **Veterinarian shortage situation—** The term “veterinarian shortage situation” means a veterinarian shortage situation as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) under [section 3151a of this title](/usc/7/3151a.md).
- (b) **Establishment—**
  - (1) **Competitive grants—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) shall carry out a program to make competitive grants to qualified entities that carry out programs or activities described in [paragraph (2)](#b-2) for the purpose of developing, implementing, and sustaining veterinary services.
  - (2) **Eligibility requirements—** A qualified entity shall be eligible to receive a grant described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) if the entity carries out programs or activities that the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) determines will—
    - (A) substantially relieve veterinarian shortage situations;
    - (B) support or facilitate private veterinary practices engaged in public health activities; or
    - (C) support or facilitate the practices of veterinarians who are providing or have completed providing services under an agreement entered into with the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) under [section 3151a(a)(2) of this title](/usc/7/3151a.md?p=a-2).
- (c) **Award processes and preferences—**
  - (1) **Application, evaluation, and input processes—** In administering the grant program established under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) shall—
    - (A) use an appropriate application and evaluation process, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15); and
    - (B) seek the input of interested [persons](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1).
  - (2) **Coordination preference—** In selecting recipients of grants to be used for any of the purposes described in [subsection (d)(1)](#d-1), the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) shall give a preference to qualified entities that provide documentation of coordination with other qualified entities, with respect to any such purpose.
  - (3) **Consideration of available funds—** In selecting recipients of grants to be used for any of the purposes described in [subsection (d)](#d), the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) shall take into consideration the amount of funds available for grants and the purposes for which the grant funds will be used.
  - (4) **Nature of grants—** A grant awarded under this section shall be considered to be a competitive research, [extension](/usc/7/3103.md?p=8), or [education](/usc/7/3103.md?p=20) grant.
- (d) **Use of grants to relieve veterinarian shortage situations and support veterinary services—**
  - (1) **In general—** Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#d-2), a qualified entity may use funds provided by a grant awarded under this section to relieve veterinarian shortage situations and support veterinary services for any of the following purposes:
    - (A) To promote recruitment (including for programs in secondary schools), placement, and retention of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students of veterinary medicine, and students of veterinary technology.
    - (B) To allow veterinary students, veterinary interns, externs, fellows, and residents, and veterinary technician students to cover expenses (other than the types of expenses described in [section 3151a(c)(5) of this title](/usc/7/3151a.md?p=c-5)) to attend training programs in food safety or food animal medicine.
    - (C) To establish or expand accredited veterinary [education](/usc/7/3103.md?p=20) programs (including faculty recruitment and retention), veterinary residency and fellowship programs, or veterinary internship and externship programs carried out in coordination with accredited [colleges](/usc/7/3103.md?p=4-A) of veterinary medicine.
    - (D) To provide continuing [education](/usc/7/3103.md?p=20) and [extension](/usc/7/3103.md?p=8), including veterinary telemedicine and other distance-based [education](/usc/7/3103.md?p=20), for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other health professionals needed to strengthen veterinary programs and enhance food safety.
    - (E) To provide technical assistance for the preparation of applications submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) for designation as a veterinarian shortage situation under this section or [section 3151a of this title](/usc/7/3151a.md).
    - (F) To expose students in grades 11 and 12 to [education](/usc/7/3103.md?p=20) and career opportunities in food animal medicine.
  - (2) **Qualified entities operating veterinary clinics—** A qualified entity described in [subsection (a)(1)(A)](#a-1-A) may only use funds provided by a grant awarded under this section to establish or expand veterinary practices, including—
    - (A) equipping veterinary offices;
    - (B) sharing in the reasonable overhead costs of such veterinary practices, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15); or
    - (C) establishing mobile veterinary facilities in which a portion of the facilities will address [education](/usc/7/3103.md?p=20) or [extension](/usc/7/3103.md?p=8) needs.
- (e) **Special requirements for certain grants—**
  - (1) **Terms of service requirements—**
    - (A) **In general—** Funds provided through a grant made under this section to a qualified entity described in [subsection (a)(1)(A)](#a-1-A) and used by such entity under [subsection (d)(2)](#d-2) shall be subject to an agreement between the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) and such entity that includes a required term of service for such entity (including a qualified entity operating as an individual), as established by the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15).
    - (B) **Considerations—** In establishing a term of service under [subparagraph (A)](#e-1-A), the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) shall consider only—
      - (i) the amount of the grant awarded; and
      - (ii) the specific purpose of the grant.
  - (2) **Breach remedies—**
    - (A) **In general—** An agreement under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall provide remedies for any breach of the agreement by the qualified entity referred to in [paragraph (1)(A)](#e-1-A), including repayment or partial repayment of the grant funds, with interest.
    - (B) **Waiver—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) may grant a waiver of the repayment obligation for breach of contract if the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) determines that such qualified entity demonstrates extreme hardship or extreme need.
    - (C) **Treatment of amounts recovered—** Funds recovered under this paragraph shall—
      - (i) be credited to the account available to carry out this section; and
      - (ii) remain available until expended without further appropriation.
- (f) **Prohibition on use of grant funds for construction—** Except as provided in [subsection (d)(2)](#d-2), funds made available for grants under this section may not be used—
  - (1) to construct a new building or facility; or
  - (2) to acquire, expand, remodel, or alter an existing building or facility, including site grading and improvement and architect fees.
- (g) **Regulations—** Not later than 1 year after February 7, 2014, the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section.
- (h) **Authorization of appropriations—**
  - (1) **In general—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain available until expended.
  - (2) **Priority—** From amounts made available for grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/7/3103.md?p=15) shall prioritize grant awards for programs or activities with a focus on the practice of food animal medicine.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1415B, as added Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7104, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 866; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7106, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4783.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (d)(1)(F). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7106(1), added subpar. (F).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7106(2), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, and added par. (2).