Sponsors (4)
The bill increases funding access and equity for historically underserved 1890 land‑grant institutions and could improve veterinary services for rural communities, but it does so by prioritizing those institutions within the existing grant pool—reducing award chances for some other applicants unless additional funding is provided.
1890 land‑grant institutions (and their students and researchers) will gain greater access to Veterinary Services Grant Program funding, increasing resources for veterinary research and extension at those schools.
Farmers and rural communities could receive improved veterinary services and outreach funded through grants at 1890 Institutions, likely improving animal health and productivity for agricultural operations in underserved areas.
The bill advances equity by explicitly including and prioritizing historically underserved 1890 Institutions in federal research and extension funding decisions.
The provision directs priority to 1890 Institutions but does not provide additional funds, meaning the existing grant pool must be redistributed and overall competition for finite dollars will increase.
Other eligible applicants and researchers may see reduced probability of receiving Veterinary Services grants because 1890 Institutions are prioritized.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds 1890 Institutions to eligible entities for the Veterinary Services Grant Program and requires USDA to give them higher priority for grants.
Official title: To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to make improvements to the veterinary services grant program, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 27, 2026 by Shomari C. Figures · Last progress April 27, 2026
Expands eligibility and priority for USDA Veterinary Services Grant Program awards by adding 1890 Institutions (the historically Black land‑grant colleges and universities defined at 7 U.S.C. 7601) to the statutory definition of “qualified entity.” It also directs the Secretary of Agriculture to give higher priority to grant projects at 1890 Institutions when deciding award recipients. The change makes 1890 Institutions explicitly eligible for these veterinary workforce and services grants and creates a clear statutory preference in scoring or selection, aiming to strengthen veterinary education and services at those institutions and the communities they serve.