Booker, Budd Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Bring Dental Care to Millions of Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Ted Budd (R-NC) reintroduced the Action for Dental Health Act, bipartisan legislation to close the gap in dental care access for communities across the nation facing severe provider shortages. The bill reauthorizes the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) grant funding to address dental workforce needs at $15 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, helping states recruit, train, and retain dental providers where they are needed most.

"Oral health is inseparable from our overall health, but for too many Americans, where they live limits their access to routine dental care because of workforce shortages," said Senator Booker. "By passing this bipartisan legislation, we can strengthen the dental workforce, help states meet the needs of underserved communities, and ensure more Americans receive the preventive care they need and deserve."

The need is stark: 63 million Americans live in areas without access to dental care, and the country needs 10,700 more dental practitioners just to meet current demand. In 2024, only 66 percent of adults saw a dentist at all-leaving millions to face preventable pain, infection, and costs that routing care could have stopped.

"Americans deserve access to reliable dental care, but with 63 million Americans living in areas impacted by industry workforce shortages, closing the oral healthcare provider gap is needed to put patients first. I am proud to join my colleague, Senator Booker, in introducing this bipartisan legislation to help ensure more Americans can get the care they need," said Senator Budd.

"Everyone deserves access to oral health care. Reauthorizing Action for Dental Health will maintain and expand proven programs that connect underserved communities with vital dental services they need to improve their health now and for years to come. We thank Senators Booker and Budd for championing this important legislation and helping move us closer to a future where more Americans can access the critical oral health care they need," said ADA President Richard Rosato, D.M.D.

The Action for Dental Health Act is endorsed by the American Dental Association.

Read a one-pager on the bill here.

Read the full text of the bill here.