August 5, 2024— As veterinary professionals, you understand the dedication and passion it takes to care for our animals. However, an equally important aspect of our profession often goes unnoticed— the advocacy work that shapes, protects, and advances veterinary medicine in Colorado. The Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Political Action Committee (PAC) plays a crucial role in this effort at our state legislature.
Why is Advocacy Important?
Advocacy is one of the most vital and impactful things CVMA offers our members. With the strength of our 2,600+ members behind us, we work tirelessly under the golden dome to protect you, your practice, and the veterinary profession. We ensure that legislators understand how proposed bills can affect your livelihood, veterinary medicine, and animal health and welfare. This is no easy task. No one person alone could hope to achieve what we accomplish when we come together as a single voice.
Our Advocacy Goals
The primary goal of CVMA’s advocacy efforts is to ensure that laws affecting veterinary medicine honor and protect the health of animals and the interests of their owners. We strive to advance the competence, professional integrity, judgment, and well-being of the veterinary workforce into the future. This involves active engagement with legislation that could impact the veterinary or animal welfare communities each and every year.
CVMA Political Action Committee
The CVMA PAC is a small group of veterinary professional volunteers and CVMA members that meet regularly to discuss legislation that impacts veterinary medicine and practice in Colorado. PAC supports legislative actions and candidates that align with the interests of veterinary professionals across the state. They are mindful of how outcomes may impact animal and human welfare.
Why Should You Donate to the CVMA PAC?
Your donation to the CVMA PAC is an investment in the future of veterinary medicine in Colorado. Here are a few reasons why your support is crucial:
- Strength in numbers: By contributing to the PAC, you amplify the collective voice of veterinary professionals in Colorado. Together, we can make a significant impact on legislative decisions that affect our profession.
- Protecting your interests: The PAC ensures that your interests are represented at the state capitol. Whether it’s fighting against harmful legislation or supporting bills that advance animal health and welfare, the PAC is there to advocate on your behalf.
- Sustaining veterinary medicine: Advocacy is not a one-time effort. Continuous support is needed to maintain and advance the standards of veterinary medicine. Your donation helps sustain these ongoing efforts year after year.
- Ensuring quality care: By supporting the PAC, you help protect medically sound veterinary care, ensuring that our animal patients receive the best possible treatment based on the latest advancements and standards in veterinary medicine.
Recent Legislative Efforts
The 2024 Colorado legislative session, which ran from January 10, 2024, to May 9, 2024, was a busy period for CVMA and PAC. We actively monitored and engaged with numerous pieces of legislation to ensure that the interests of veterinary professionals were represented. For full descriptions, actions, and the status of all legislation CVMA follows, you can navigate to colovma.org/advocacy.
How You Can Get Involved in CVMA’s Advocacy:
- Make a donation: Your financial support is vital. Consider donating to the CVMA PAC to support our efforts at the capitol. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps strengthen our advocacy work.
- Engage in conversation: Advocacy starts with awareness. Engage in conversations with your community, colleagues, and clients about the importance of supporting advocacy efforts. The more people understand the impact of legislation on veterinary medicine, the stronger our collective voice becomes.
- Stay informed: Keep up to date with the latest advocacy and legislative affairs through CVMA’s eVOICE, our app, and the news section of our website. Being informed allows you to actively participate in the conversations shaping the future of veterinary medicine in Colorado.
Together, we can make a difference. Make a donation to the CVMA PAC, and let’s continue to advocate for a future where veterinary medicine in Colorado can flourish. Together, we can protect and advance our profession for the benefit of all.
