[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4645-H4646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1530
ACTION FOR DENTAL HEALTH ACT
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2001) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize
a grant program for addressing dental workforce needs, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2001
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Action for Dental Health
Act''.
SEC. 2. ACTION FOR DENTAL HEALTH.
Section 340G(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
256g(f)) is amended by striking ``$13,903,000 for each of
fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``$15,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain
available until expended''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the
legislation and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2001.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2001 led by my
colleagues Representative Kelly and Representative Simpson, which
reauthorizes a grant program that helps States develop and implement
programs to address the need for dental professionals in areas facing a
workforce shortage.
Oral health is foundational to a person's overall health, as poor
oral health may cause issues with daily tasks, like eating, and
negatively impacts a person's ability to take part in school or work.
This legislation is a bipartisan effort to help improve the oral
health of all Americans by ensuring that communities across the Nation
have access to strong oral health programs despite dental workforce
shortages.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2001, the Action for Dental
Health Act, led by Representative Kelly.
Access to oral healthcare is critical to ensuring a person's health
and well-being. Too often, however, oral health is overlooked. Tooth
decay is the most common chronic disease in both children and adults in
the United States. In fact, more than one in four adults have untreated
cavities, and nearly half of American adults show signs of gum disease.
We need to expand access to oral healthcare, including strengthening
the oral healthcare workforce.
The Action for Dental Health Act reauthorizes State oral health
workforce improvement programs. These programs seek to enhance dental
workforce planning and development through the support of innovative
programs that meet the individual needs of each funded State.
I hope my colleagues will join me in this effort to strengthen and
expand access to oral healthcare.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R.
2001, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Idaho (Mr. Simpson), my good friend, who is a member of the Committee
on Appropriations, and also a dentist, so he knows this issue well.
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2001, the Action for
Dental Health Act.
This bill reauthorizes grants to State and local organizations to
address dental workforce needs and improve access to care for patients.
Administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, or
HRSA, these grants play a vital role in supporting programs that
provide oral healthcare to vulnerable and underserved populations,
especially children, seniors, and those living in rural areas.
Since it was first implemented, the Action for Dental Health Act has
delivered meaningful results. It has enhanced dental services for
hardworking American families, strengthened the dental safety net, and
brought disease prevention and education programs directly into
communities that have been overlooked for far too long.
It has also increased awareness of the importance of oral health to
overall health. This is why this reauthorization is so critical.
Congress still has a lot more work to do, especially with dental
workforce shortages and the alarming number of adults and children
suffering from untreated dental diseases.
According to the American Dental Association, 9 out of 10 dentists
report difficulties in recruiting dental hygienists and assistants, a
challenge that is particularly difficult in rural areas. As a result,
many dental practices are overwhelmed by trying to see their patients
in a timely manner.
As a former dentist in my hometown of Blackfoot, Idaho, I have seen
firsthand the value of good oral health and the consequences of
neglect. For people who don't have access to dental care, oral health
disease is almost 100 percent inevitable. In fact, it is the most
common chronic disease affecting children in the United States.
The more dentists can provide patients with an early diagnosis, the
better off these patients and our healthcare system will be.
As co-chair of the Congressional Oral Health Caucus, I am in a
fortunate position to have the ability to impact the oral health
initiatives that deserve to be prioritized.
That is why I thank my colleague from Illinois, Congresswoman Kelly,
for her continued leadership on this issue. I was proud to partner with
her in 2018 when the Action for Dental Health Act was first passed, and
I am pleased to see the House of Representatives working again in a
bipartisan fashion to consider this reauthorization.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to getting this important bill across the
finish line and sent to the President's desk, and I urge my colleagues
to support this bill.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Illinois (Ms. Kelly), a member of our committee, who has for a long
time championed the healthcare concerns of low-income and underserved
people.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to speak on my
bipartisan bill, H.R. 2001, the Action for Dental Health Act, to
reauthorize vital oral health workforce grants through 2030.
Even though it is entirely preventable, tooth decay remains the most
prevalent chronic disease among children and adults in this country.
Right now, millions of Americans live in communities with a severe
shortage of dental health professionals.
This means that kids are forced to grow up with untreated tooth
decay, impacting their ability to eat, play, and learn.
It means that adults are skipping care until a simple cavity becomes
an infection and an infection becomes an emergency room visit.
[[Page H4646]]
It means that seniors are forced to live with toothlessness or
chronic dental pain with potentially life-threatening consequences.
Dental health is often an indication of overall health, which is why
we must address the barriers to these services and ensure that everyone
has access to reliable care. The more we can address early diagnosis,
intervention, and preventative dental treatments, the better off our
patients and our healthcare system will be.
The Action for Dental Health Act reauthorizes vital funds to grow the
oral health workforce, support oral health education, and establish
dental homes. Passing this bill is a major step forward. By supporting
local organizations and strengthening existing resources, we will
expand oral healthcare in underserved communities, reducing dental
disease and preventing costly emergency room visits.
I thank my colleague Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho for his work
on this bill. As one of a handful of dentists in Congress, I thank him
for his expertise and partnership on such an important effort. I have
been proud to work with my colleagues on oral health issues since 2013.
I am glad to see bipartisan support on such a critical issue.
Mr. Speaker, let's act now to ensure every American in need has
access to quality dental health services.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time, and I am
prepared to close.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan bill. Obviously,
dental care is so important.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I agree with my friend from New Jersey. Dental care is
important.
I encourage a ``yes'' vote on the bill, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2001, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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