Why It Matters

Tom Tomei’s entry into federal lobbying represents a strategic move to influence an increasingly active policy environment around veterinary medicine and pet food regulation. The organization is positioned to shape major legislative initiatives, including the bipartisan Rural Veterinary Workforce Act and the Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act, both targeting workforce shortages and rural veterinary access.

By the Numbers

Tom Tomei engaged Shumaker Advisors LLC beginning February 17, 2025, reporting $67,500 in lobbying expenses through Q3 2025. The firm has represented 37 organizations since 2018 with over $2.5 million in reported fees.

As a first-time federal lobbyist, Tom Tomei enters a crowded advocacy space dominated by established players like the American Veterinary Medical Association and American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, which spend hundreds of thousands quarterly on similar issues. Tom Tomei’s $67,500 spending through Q3 2025 represents a modest investment, but hiring Shumaker Advisors LLC—particularly lobbyist Ryan Paul Walker, who served over 14 years in senior House positions—suggests a focused strategy to influence veterinary and animal product policy development.

Tom Tomei’s lobbying team consists of four Shumaker lobbyists:
including Ryan Paul Walker. They are:

  • Jason Mark Ouimet: Former Senate Legislative Assistant with 17-year tenure representing the National Rifle Association
  • Christopher Salemme: Nearly two decades of lobbying experience across telecommunications, healthcare, and transportation
  • Mike Fedorchak: Newer federal lobbyist representing telecommunications, education, and healthcare clients

All four lobbyists also represent the Columbus Zoological Park Association, providing direct animal policy advocacy experience.

The Agenda

Congress is actively advancing bipartisan legislation including the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act and Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act.

The organization will also engage on state-level animal welfare regulations and their interstate commerce impact—an issue highlighted during House Agriculture Committee discussions of California’s Proposition 12. Tom Tomei’s lobbying focus aligns with congressional efforts to address veterinary workforce shortages and expand rural veterinary access.

Broader Context

Congressional activity on veterinary medicine is intensifying. The bipartisan workforce bills reflect growing concern about rural veterinarian shortages. The Senate Veterinary Medicine Caucus has emphasized that USDA veterinarians are critical to preventing animal disease outbreaks.

Congress is also grappling with how state animal welfare regulations like California’s Proposition 12 affect interstate commerce in animal products—directly relevant to pet food manufacturing standards. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act presents another intersection, requiring protections for veterinary sedative use while combating drug abuse.

Between The Lines

Multiple bipartisan initiatives are advancing veterinary policy. Recent Senate Agriculture Committee hearings highlighted USDA veterinarian losses, with the Senate Veterinary Medicine Caucus emphasizing veterinarians as the "first line of defense against animal diseases."

A House Agriculture Committee hearing on Proposition 12 underscored tensions between state animal welfare regulations and interstate commerce—directly relevant to pet food regulation debates. Members including Rep. John Larson and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith have voiced support for rural veterinary workforce initiatives, signaling broad bipartisan momentum.

Competitive Landscape

Tom Tomei enters a crowded advocacy space. The American Veterinary Medical Association leads spending $215,000 in Q1 2025 alone on workforce development and loan repayment programs. The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges spent $80,000 in Q2 2025 advocating for education funding, while Adtalem Global Education Inc. invested $280,000 on workforce and loan repayment issues.

All these groups actively engage on the same legislation Tom Tomei now pursues, creating a competitive environment where differentiation will be essential.

The Bottom Line

Tom Tomei hired Shumaker Advisors for its congressional experience, particularly Walker’s House background, positions Tom Tomei to influence active legislation including the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act.

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