On June 4, 2026, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education held a mark-up of the FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. This is the first step in determination of funding levels for these programs for federal fiscal year (FY) 2027 which runs from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Included among such programs is the AAPD’s top appropriations priority, Title VII health professions training funds for pediatric dentistry. Despite the Administration’s proposed FY 2027 budget that would eliminate all HRSA oral health training programs, the House Subcommittee increased funding for Pediatric Dentistry by $500,000, to $14 million, with the following favorable report language:

“The Committee provides $46,673,000 for Training in Oral Health Care programs, which includes not less than $14,000,000 for General Dentistry Programs, not less than $14,000,000 for Pediatric Dentistry Programs, and not less than $15,000,000 for State Oral Health Workforce grants. The Committee directs HRSA to provide funding for section 748 post-doctoral training grants, predoctoral dental grants, and dental faculty loan repayment program (DFLRP) grants. The Committee continues to support awards with a preference for pediatric dentistry faculty supervising dental students or residents and providing clinical services in dental schools, hospitals, and community-based affiliated sites.”

 This is a significant advocacy win in the current environment, especially as the House bill cut 4% of the overall Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget. The full subcommittee report can be found here: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP00/20260609/119380/HMKP-119-AP00-20260609-SD003.pdf. The dental language shown above is on pages 41-42. This bill was approved by the full House Appropriations Committee on June 9, 2026.

This successful outcome is due to the great work of AAPD’s Congressional Liaisons Drs. Warren Brill and Jade Miller, the Powers lobbying team in Washington, D.C. led by Julie Allen, and advocacy by state teams during POHAC 2026.

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