Congress finally approved final funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 24 budget, completing the appropriations process for this FY (October 1, 2023-September 30, 2024). President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion spending bill into law on March 23, 2024 as P.L. 118-47. This avoids a government shutdown. The legislation includes funding for dental-related programs that address access to care, oral health literacy, dental research and workforce development, including the AAPD’s top appropriations priority: Title VII Pediatric Dentistry funding.

The bill includes following report language:

“Oral Health Training. The agreement includes not less than $15,000,000 for State Oral Health Workforce grants, not less than $13,000,000 for General Dentistry programs, and not less than $13,000,000 for Pediatric Dentistry programs. The agreement reiterates the directives found under this program in Senate Report 118-84.”

This reflects level funding for Title VII Pediatric Dentistry. The reference to directives in the Senate report adopts the following language obtained via AAPD’s advocacy:

“The Committee directs HRSA to provide continuation funding for section 748 post-doctoral training grants, predoctoral dental grants, and dental faculty loan repayment program [DFLRP] grants. The Committee directs HRSA to initiate a new DFLRP grant cycle with a preference for pediatric dentistry faculty supervising dental students or residents and providing clinical services in dental clinics located in dental schools, hospitals, and community-based affiliated sites.” [Emphasis added. From Senate report 118-84, July 27, 2023: https://www.congress.gov/118/crpt/srpt84/CRPT-118srpt84.pdf]

The AAPD acknowledges the hard work of Congressional Liaisons Drs. Warren Brill and Jade Miller, in collaboration with the AAPD’s Washington, D.C. lobbyist Ms. Julie Allen and her team at Powers. Advocacy by attendees at the AAPD’s Pediatric Oral Health Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. in both 2023 and 2024 was also important for this successful outcome.

For any questions, please contact Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel C. Scott Litch at 773-938-4759 or slitch@aapd.org.