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House of Representatives

Action for Dental Health Act

2026-07-20 Issue 118 Showing 1–4 of 4

Official Congressional Record ↗

Brett Guthrie

Republican 3:30 p.m.

“I want this bill to pass. The government should spend money on dental health programs.”

Brett Guthrie

Republican 3:30 p.m.

“I want my colleagues to support this bill. The government should spend money on dental health programs. Dentists are needed. The government should help states get more dentists. Dental health is important for everyone.”

Official Congressional Record

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.

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Michael K. Simpson

Republican 3:30 p.m.

“I want my colleagues to support this bill. The government should spend money on dental health programs. More people should get dental care. Dental health is important. The government gives grants for dental programs. We want to keep doing that. I used to be a dentist. Some people have bad teeth. That is bad. I like this bill. I want it to pass.”

Official Congressional Record

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.

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Brett Guthrie

Republican 3:30 p.m.

“I agree with the other speaker. Dental care is important. I want this bill to pass. I have nothing more to say.”

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