The ADA, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Association for Dental Research have joined forces to lobby Congress to increase funding for oral health programs in the 2021 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
In their December 3 letter, the organizations told the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate appropriations committees that the modest programmatic increases they are requesting, together with the continuation of programs, will help reach the goal of ensuring optimal health for all Americans, according to the ADA.
Top requests include the following:
- Maintaining the Senate's appropriations level of $493 million for the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
- Increasing funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Oral Health
- Continuing support for the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Title VII general and pediatric dental residency programs
The ADA said the organizations also expressed concern over the Senate's proposal to eliminate funding for the HRSA's Health Careers Opportunity Program and urged lawmakers to extend funding for this vital program.
