((a)) ** In general** From the amounts appropriated under subsection (g), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall award competitive grants to eligible entities for the purpose of improving public health preparedness through increasing the number of veterinarians in the workforce.

((b)) ** Eligible entities** To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall—

((1)) be—

((A)) a public or other nonprofit school of veterinary medicine that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary of Education pursuant to part H of subchapter IV;

((B)) a public or nonprofit, department of comparative medicine, department of veterinary science, school of public health, or school of medicine that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary of Education pursuant to part H of subchapter IV and that offers graduate training for veterinarians in a public health practice area as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; or

((C)) a public or nonprofit entity that—

((i)) conducts recognized residency training programs for veterinarians that are approved by a veterinary specialty organization that is recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association; and

((ii)) offers postgraduate training for veterinarians in a public health practice area as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and

((2)) prepare and submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of Health and Human Services may require.

((c)) ** Consideration of applications** The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish procedures to ensure that applications under subsection (b)(2) are rigorously reviewed and that grants are competitively awarded based on—

((1)) the ability of the applicant to increase the number of veterinarians who are trained in specified public health practice areas as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

((2)) the ability of the applicant to increase capacity in research on high priority disease agents; or

((3)) any other consideration the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines necessary.

((d)) ** Preference** In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall give preference to applicants that demonstrate a comprehensive approach by involving more than one school of veterinary medicine, department of comparative medicine, department of veterinary science, school of public health, school of medicine, or residency training program that offers postgraduate training for veterinarians in a public health practice area as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

((e)) ** Use of funds** Amounts received under a grant under this section shall be used by a grantee to increase the number of veterinarians in the workforce through paying costs associated with the expansion of academic programs at schools of veterinary medicine, departments of comparative medicine, departments of veterinary science, or entities offering residency training programs, or academic programs that offer postgraduate training for veterinarians or concurrent training for veterinary students in specific areas of specialization, which costs may include minor renovation and improvement in classrooms, libraries, and laboratories.

((f)) ** Definition of public health practice area** In this section, the term “public health practice area” includes the areas of bioterrorism and emergency preparedness, environmental health, food safety and food security, regulatory medicine, diagnostic laboratory medicine, and biomedical research.

((g)) ** Authorization of appropriations** There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.